Joe Willock has now been linked with a move to France, as AS Monaco join Newcastle United in the queue for the Arsenal youngster.
Willock, 21, had struggled for game time with the Gunners in the first half of the 2020/21 campaign, making just two league starts before eventually sealing a loan move to Newcastle United in January.
The 21-year-old hit the ground running at St James' Park, finding himself on the scoresheet eight times in 14 games for the Magpies, with a whopping seven of those goals coming in his final seven games for Steve Bruce's side.
Impressive form which has attracted the Tyneside club to revisit and see if there is any possibility of reacquiring the Arsenal youngster on either a permanent or loan deal.
Unfortunately for Mike Ashley and co, they will not have a free run at the 21-year-old this summer with Niko Kovac's Monaco the most recent club to enter the race.
French journalist and RMC Sport correspondent Loic Tanzi has reported that the Ligue 1 outfit are 'exploring' the possibility of this potential transfer and whether Willock is financially a viable option for the cash-strapped club.
His tweet translated to: 'While the track leading Jean Lucas (Olympique Lyonnais) is not moving forward, for the moment, AS Monaco is exploring the case of Joe Willock.
'The 21-year-old Englishman already has a solid CV with 54 Premier League appearances played since the start of his career.'
RMC Sport have further claimed since Tanzi's initial tweet that Monaco are in discussions with the ex-Newcastle loanee.
The Monégasque staff want to sign him to support the Youssouf Fofana and Aurelien Tchouaméni midfield duo.
Current Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will be hoping to block any potential Willock exit, with the Spaniard adamant that the midfielder will be part of his squad next season.
Arteta said in May: “For sure because he’s got a contract and that’s going to be here. That’s for sure.
“I am really happy that things have gone so well because of the potential that he has. I think it was great for him to go away and have a different experience.
“He has grabbed that opportunity in a really positive and remarkable way and he will come back to us, we will have a conversation with him and plan the next years for him.
“And he got the responsibility and the test of going to Newcastle to help them get where they want to. I spoke with the coaching staff there and they are extremely happy because he was a key part of contributing to get the objectives that they had. That’s a real positive for him.”
