Newcastle United must sign Joe Willock this summer or risk being priced out of a potential move for the Arsenal midfielder further down the line.
That was the warning sent by former Magpies defender Steve Howey who fears his price tag could go up by £20million next summer if he builds on a successful loan spell at St James' Park.
Willock enjoyed a highly successful loan spell with Newcastle during the second half of last season, becoming the youngest player in Premier League history to score in seven consecutive games.
The 21-year-old has returned to Arsenal this summer, though, and Toon boss Steve Bruce is desperate to seal his return to Tyneside.
Talk of a cash plus exchanging goalkeeper Freddie Woodman has been mooted and Howey has warned that Newcastle's best chance of signing the England under-21 international will come this summer.
“How many times have we seen big clubs loan out some of their young kids they’ve done all right but obviously gone back to their parent club and been massive?” Howey told This is Futbol.
“Harry Kane being one of them – he got loaned out a good few times. There’s loads of players that’s happened to.
“In a year’s time, if you do pick up Joe Willock for £25m, he could be worth £35m or £45m if he has a season which he had in the time that he was at Newcastle.”
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