Besiktas January Move for Joe Willock: Newcastle Star Targeted

Besiktas president confirms January move for Newcastle's Joe Willock

Besiktas president Serdal Adali has gone public with a bold declaration: the Turkish club will return for Newcastle United midfielder Joe Willock in January after failing to complete a summer deal. Willock, in the final year of his contract, has scored three goals in seven matches under new head coach Matthias Jaissle.

Player: Joe Willock (Newcastle United midfielder)
Interested club: Besiktas
Proposed fee: Around £17m previously mentioned; Newcastle now reportedly want £20m
Timing: January transfer window
Contract status: Final year; free to sign pre-contract with overseas clubs from January
Form: Three goals in seven matches this season under Matthias Jaissle

What was said

"There were players we couldn't sign in the summer."
— Serdal Adali, Besiktas president

"Our manager wanted Joe Willock from day one, it was Willock, Willock, Willock."
— Serdal Adali

"Nobody knows this, but I brought Willock's whole family to Istanbul. They even picked out a house, and they had video calls with Vincenzo Italiano and Onder [Ozen, the football director] at least ten times. Furthermore, we went to see the player in person twice."
— Serdal Adali, revealing the depth of Besiktas's summer pursuit

"He could sign in the mid-season. They asked for £20m. We can sign in January, and I will. Joe Willock was the player the coach wanted but was missing. We really need him there."
— Serdal Adali, outlining his January objective

"I feel valued. It is like my fifth year at the club, and I am really maturing in the way I think towards the team and getting older. There are a lot of young players coming in. It is a different role for me this season. I want to help others and push on in my career as well."
— Joe Willock, after his Carabao Cup winner against Millwall

"The new manager has given me a new lease of life, I am really happy he's here and happy working under him."
— Joe Willock on Matthias Jaissle

Adali's comments are unusually detailed for a club president, revealing how close Besiktas came to signing Willock. The claim that he brought Willock's family to Istanbul and that they picked out a house shows the move was advanced. However, the deal collapsed late in the summer window, reportedly due to Newcastle's changed circumstances after the departures of Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali.

Willock's own words suggest he is content at Newcastle. His reference to feeling valued and Jaissle giving him a "new lease of life" indicates a player buying into the project. That may complicate Besiktas's January plans, but the contract situation keeps the door open for a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club from January.

Deal details

Fee: A fee of around £17 million had been mentioned previously, while Adali now claims Newcastle wanted £20 million.
Contract: Willock is in the final year of his contract, meaning he can sign a pre-contract agreement with overseas clubs from January.
Stage: No deal agreed. Besiktas are expected to return in January, but Newcastle's stance may have hardened due to Willock's form and importance under Jaissle.

Matthias Jaissle influence changes Newcastle picture

The landscape has shifted since the summer. Willock has started the season strongly, scoring three goals in seven matches, and his role under Matthias Jaissle appears far more prominent than many anticipated. Newcastle's new head coach is understood to value his energy, athleticism and attacking thrust — qualities that have become increasingly important after changes in midfield personnel.

That shift is reflected in Willock's own words. After his winner against Millwall in the Carabao Cup, he said he feels valued and is maturing. He also noted a different role this season, aiming to help younger players while pushing on in his career. For Newcastle, these comments suggest Willock is fully engaged with the new regime.

Contract situation keeps January transfer window alive

Willock's contract status remains central. He is free to sign a pre-contract with overseas clubs from January, ensuring Besiktas's interest cannot be dismissed. However, Newcastle may feel the balance of power has improved if he remains central to Jaissle's plans and continues performing.

Willock's verdict on life under his new manager — "The new manager has given me a new lease of life, I am really happy he's here and happy working under him" — may matter as much as any external approach. For Newcastle, those words are a signal to act quickly on a new contract.

Why Newcastle must act now to secure Willock's future

From a Newcastle perspective, this report cuts both ways. Hearing another club president speak so openly about Willock is hardly ideal, especially when the player is thriving. But it also underscores his value that Besiktas remain so determined after missing out in the summer. If Willock truly feels valued and believes Jaissle has given him a new lease of life, Newcastle must build on that immediately. This is a midfielder with pace, drive and directness that can change games. When fit and confident, he offers something different in transition and around the box.

Supporters will hope the club move quickly on the contract rather than letting the situation drift towards January. Selling him now would feel like a backward step unless a major offer arrived, and even then replacing his profile would not be simple. The bigger picture is that Newcastle need continuity, leadership and players buying into Jaissle's methods. Right now, Willock sounds like one of them. The priority should be to keep him, extend him, and make him part of the next phase.

Talking points

Should Newcastle sell Willock in January if a £20m bid arrives, or keep him regardless given his importance to Jaissle?
Besiktas's public pursuit could unsettle Willock, but his own comments suggest he's happy — does that give Newcastle leverage?
If Willock signs a pre-contract with an overseas club in January, Newcastle would lose him for free — is that acceptable?
Willock's form under Jaissle shows his value, but his injury history might tempt Newcastle to cash in while his stock is high.

What happens next

Newcastle face a decision on Willock's contract before January, when he could sign a pre-contract with an overseas club. Besiktas president Serdal Adali has declared he will sign Willock in January, but Newcastle's improved position may see them offer a new deal. The coming weeks will reveal whether Willock's fine form and apparent happiness translate into a contract extension at St James' Park.

Frequently asked questions

Is Joe Willock leaving Newcastle in January?

Besiktas president Serdal Adali has said he will sign Willock in January, but no deal is agreed. Willock's contract expires at the end of the season, so Newcastle could still extend his deal.

How much would Besiktas pay for Joe Willock?

Besiktas previously mentioned a fee of around £17 million, while Adali claims Newcastle wanted £20 million. Any January move would likely be around that figure.