Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce revealed on Friday that Joe Willock is set to join the club on six-year contract.
The Arsenal midfielder enjoyed a hugely successful loan spell at St James' Park last season when he scored eight goals — including a record-breaking seven games in a row — to help Newcastle stave off the threat of relegation.
Bruce had endured a frustrating wait over the summer as he waited for the Gunners to make a call on the 21-year-old's future. And even when a fee of around £22 million ($30.4m) was agreed earlier in the week, there was a hold up over the player's wage demands.
There has also been the shadow of the failed £300m Saudi Arabian takeover of the club which has seen owner Mike Ashley embark on a bitter legal battle with the Premier League over the deal's collapse.
The uncertainty has meant Bruce has been unable to sign a single player over the summer meaning a sense of growing frustration was sweeping across Tyneside before the new season.
But finally, there appears to be some good news for manager and fans with the arrival of Willock. “He’s here, he’s completed his medical,” Bruce said.
“There are still a few bits and pieces to be done on that front as we speak now, so we expect him to train this morning.
“We have to make sure the results of the medical are fine, but so far — touch wood — everything has gone to plan.
“I knew [Arsenal manager] Mikel Arteta would want to look at him in pre-season so we knew we'd have to be patient.
“We explored the loan option, but when that couldn't happen we knew we had to buy him. To be fair to my bosses they always said if Joe became available we'd try to buy him.
“Where else would you sign a 21-year-old who scored seven goals on the trot?
“Over the last few years we’ve broken every rule Newcastle have had in terms of going about transfers, but we’ve made it possible and for everybody concerned, a big thank you.”
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NEWCASTLE UNITED 2020/21 SEASON RATINGS - MANAGER: Steve Bruce 5 - Did exactly what owner Mike Ashley wanted: top-flight status, nothing more. Hindered by illness and injury to players but still got tactics and selections badly wrong in key games. Unpopular with fans and was lucky not to be sacked during run of two wins in 22 games. -
Karl Darlow 6 - Started season in superb fashion and was even being talked-up for a possible England call-up, before form tailed-off and eventually lost his place to Dubravka. Found out he was going to be dropped from team ahead of Wolves game via a story in a newspaper. Shutterstock -
GOALKEEPERS: Martin Dubravka 8 - Had to be patient at start of season with Darlow in good form but now safely restored as club's first choice. Excellent shot-stopper, who commands area and is all-round safe pair of hands. Might start attracting attention of bigger fish if he stays fit and in-form. -
Mark Gillespie 4 - Third-choice keeper restricted to three cup appearances, once of which saw him drop a horrendous clanger against fourth-tier Newport in the League Cup. -
DEFENDERS: Federico Fernandez 7 - The 32-year-old Argentine has been a reliable presence at centre-half and is one of only three defenders to have made more than 20 starts this season. Fernandez' contract comes to an end this summer and the club appear in no rush to offer him a new one. -
Ciaran Clark 6 - Hit and miss season for the Irish defender. Can look a class act at times but is also prone to lapses in concentration. Also in his 30s and playing in an area Newcastle will need to strengthen. -
Fabian Schar 5 - An injury-hit season for the Swiss who made just 13 league starts and was sent-off within 20 minutes of coming on in his latest comeback from injury against Arsenal. Rolled in confident penalty in final league game at Fulham to end season on high. Uncertain whether Newcastle will take up the option of extending his contract this summer. PA -
Jamaal Lascelles 7 - The club captain's footwork can be a bit cumbersome at times but Newcastle miss Lascelles' physical presence and leadership skills when he's out of the team. Been a testing season for the 27-year-old who was knocked for six by Covid-19 and then saw his campaign ended by a foot injury. -
Paul Dummett 7 - Geordie boy who saw his season decimated by injury - just 16 appearances. When he does play, is always a solid, reliable defender. Scored his first league goal since January 2016 in the 4-2 win over Leicester. Decision to play him as a wingback away to Sheffield United was prime example of manager's tactical failures. -
Emil Krafth 6 - Swedish right-back improved in his second season in England after looking out of depth following his arrival. Looked shaky at times when asked to play centre-half due to injuries/illness. Scored his first goal for the club with excellent header in the 4-3 defeat at home to against Manchester City. Reuters -
Javi Manquillo 6 - Spaniard is a more than useful squad player who can cover both full-back roles but has also struggled with injuries. Limited to 15 games and has been missed by the Magpies. -
Jamal Lewis 5 - Highly-rated left-back signed for £15m from relegated Norwich last summer and started the season well. Particularly good pushing forward but as the season progressed became a liability defensively. The 23-year-old showed enough early on to suggest he can still make the grade. -
Jacob Murphy 6 - After being loaned out the previous couple of seasons, the former Norwich wideman became a regular starter. Confidence can appear brittle at times and defensively he's not great but can whip in a mean cross and chipped in with a couple important goals (against Wolves and Burnley). -
MIDFIELDERS: Sean Longstaff 4 - Midfielder who burst on to the scene in the 2018/19 campaign under Rafa Benitez in spectacular fashion. Struggled with form and fitness since and has gone backwards under Bruce. Still only 23 but could be make or break for his Magpies career next season. Getty -
Matt Ritchie 7 - Scandalously under-used until the business end of the season when his drive and determination were crucial to Newcastle staying up. Wideman had training-ground bust-up when he called Bruce a "coward" after being publicly criticised by his manager. -
Matty Longstaff 3 - A strange one. Newcastle fought tooth and nail to get the 21-year-old brother of Sean to sign a new deal at the club, then Bruce only started him in four games all season. Has promise but needs game time. -
Jonjo Shelvey 6 - Midfielder is a staunch favourite of Bruce and if fit, a certain starter. Still capable of running the show with his passing and can spray the ball around like a quarterback. Should never have been made captain in Lascelles' absence and his lack of pace can be a problem against mobile opponents. -
Isaac Hayden 7 - The Mr Reliable of Newcastle's midfield. Determined in the tackle, keeps it simple with his distribution and the team is stronger if he's in the starting XI. Season ended early by nasty knee injury picked up during the woeful 3-0 defeat at Brighton. -
Jeff Hendrick 3 - Looked a decent free transfer arrival from Burnley in the summer and made an impressive goal-scoring debut in the opening win at West Ham. But it was all downhill from there. A anonymous in the majority of his 23 appearances and lost his starting place. -
Miguel Almiron 5 - Another player who seems to have gone backwards since Bruce's arrival and it is still unclear what his best position is. Cannot fault his commitment but such a talented and pacy player should be contributing more to matches in goals and assists. -
Ryan Fraser 4 - Another freebie who looked a good signing on paper but has been a disappointment. The Scotland international has struggled for form and fitness all season and flattered to deceive when he has started games. -
Allan Saint-Maximin 8 - Like Lascelles, the French attacker was hit hard by Covid, leaving Newcastle without their main source of attacking flair midway through the season. Had to be eased back into the fray but gave the team desperately needed spark and is virtually unplayable in full flow. -
Joe Willock 9 - Proved an inspired loan-signing from Arsenal in New Year. Contributed eight goals from midfield, even scoring three in a row as a substitute after being left on the bench by Bruce. Became youngest Premier League player to score six, then seven goals in successive games. Newcastle should go all-out to make move permanent. -
STRIKERS: Joelinton 3 - A £40m striker who doesn't score, assist, hold the ball up or show regular flashes of game-changing skill. Kept his place in starting line-up when likes of Gayle and Carroll should have been given run. Six goals in 41 appearances (four in 30 in the league) makes it 10 in 85 overall. Appalling stats for a Newcastle No 9. -
Callum Wilson 9 - Without his finishing skills, Newcastle would have gone down this season. Simple as that. The £20m signing from Bournemouth scored 12 goals in 28 appearances and would have been closer to 20 had it not been for injury. -
Dwight Gayle 4 - Should feel aggrieved that he has not started more games instead of the hapless Joelinton. On rare occasions he did start, the goal-poaching striker who thrives on balls into the box was played in a wide role totally unsuited to his game. -
Andy Carroll 4 - Disgracefully under-used. The 32-year-old might lack pace and struggle with injuries but remains a defender's nightmare if balls are put into box from wide. A frustrating waste of what is likely to be his last season at the club.
It remains to be seen whether Willock will be registered in time — or is even fit enough — to start the Magpies' first game of the new season against West Ham United on Sunday.
“We want to see where he is and where he's up to. It's been a hectic few days. We have to get him registered by 12pm and we hope we can play him against West Ham.
“Let's not forget we have him for six years now which is great.”
When asked if there were any more irons in the fire in terms of new faces, Bruce added: “I think it's fair to say the club has gone beyond what I thought they could already.
“We have a full quota of 25 players. But there's still a lot to play out in the window and we've one or two things bubbling away.”
Newcastle finished 12th last season after looking in desperate trouble midway through the campaign only to produce a fine run at the end to secure their top-flight status.
“The big thing for us is to try to improve on last year,” Bruce added. “We had a good start and a good finish, but an awful winter time.
“We need to be lucky with injuries and certainly with Joe in team we looked a threat and to score those goals he gave us something different and he improves us. Little by little we try to improve.”
