Arsenal have set a price they would consider to start negotiations over Joe Willock.
That's according to recent reports with Willock the talk of the town having impressed during his loan spell with Newcastle United, adding another goal to his tally against Manchester City on Friday night.
The 21-year-old has now scored six goals for Newcastle United since joining in January, finding the net in all of his last five Premier League appearances for the Magpies to help them secure survival.
There is now talk of Willock's future and whether Arsenal could move to offload the youngster on a permanent deal as they look to strengthen in midfield this summer, perhaps with the permanent signing of loan star Martin Odegaard.
Steve Bruce has already declared Newcastle's interest in a permanent deal, saying: "He’s enjoying his football.
"We have taken the reins off him and let him run forward and that was probably what we didn’t have enough of in January, that forward-running midfielder who likes to score. We’d love to keep him but he has got a big future.”
But it seems that would require Mike Ashley to dig deep into his pockets.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal want a fee of between £25million and £30million to even begin talks over Willock this summer, and that's significantly above the £20million fee doing the rounds.
That high price could suggest Arsenal are indeed open to keeping Willock, and it might just make sense with Odegaard unlikely to be available and with Arteta needing a creative midfielder.
Willock has proven himself as a threat going forward from midfield with a Magpies side that has largely struggled this season.
The young midfielder is under contract at Arsenal until 2023, giving the Gunners plenty of control over his future, but having impressed for Newcastle, it is likely Willock will want assurances over game time if he is to return to the Gunners.
Whether Arteta can offer that will likely depend on how far Arsenal get in the Odegaard negotiations, but with Real Madrid seeing the Norwegian as a 'fundamental piece' of their future, the move is likely a long shot.
