Newcastle Rejects Fulham's £20m Bid for Willock

Newcastle United have rejected a £20 million bid from Fulham for midfielder Joe Willock, as the Premier League clubs navigate the final days of the January transfer window. The offer, submitted late in the window ahead of Monday's 7 p.m. deadline, aimed to bring the 26-year-old back to London but was turned down because Newcastle insist on securing a replacement before allowing his departure.

Willock, who joined Newcastle permanently from Arsenal in 2021 for £25 million following a successful loan spell, has made 163 competitive appearances for the club, scoring 19 goals and providing nine assists. His contract runs until 2027, leaving him with 18 months remaining at the end of the season. This campaign, however, has seen limited opportunities for the England international hopeful, with just two Premier League starts in 20 appearances overall. He has started seven matches across all competitions, including a recent outing where he scored in Newcastle's 1-1 Champions League draw against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday. That performance highlighted his value, but manager Eddie Howe has prioritized other midfielders like Joelinton, Bruno Guimaraes, and Sandro Tonali, though...