William Osula sends two-word message to Joe Willock amid Newcastle exit rumours
William Osula has sent a message to Newcastle teammate Joe Willock on social media amid rumours that the former Arsenal man could soon leave St James’ Park.
The Magpies are preparing to return to the Champions League next season after a fifth-placed finish in the Premier League last term, and it promises to be a busy summer window at the club as a result.
Willock is a fringe player that could make an exit soon, after he struggled to have much of an impact on their fortunes last term with just 11 starts made in the Premier League.
Former scout Mick Brown told Football Insider in May that Crystal Palace are plotting a move for Willock this summer, as Football Insider also revealed that month that Newcastle could look to sell Willock to balance the books.
That may be needed even more now as the Magpies close in on signing Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga, and he has continued to be linked with a departure as the new season edges ever closer.
William Osula sends message to Willock on Instagram
Willock is back in training with Newcastle ahead of the new season, as he remains part of Eddie Howe’s squad for now, and the club released some pictures of him and his teammates working hard on their Instagram page on Thursday, 10 July, alongside a caption of camera and smiling emojis.
Magpies striker Osula was pictured sprinting ahead of Willock in the post, and he reacted by sharing it to his own Instagram story on Friday (11 July) with a cheeky caption saying: “Shout ya (Joe Willock)” with laughing and gust of wind emojis to represent him dashing away from his teammate.
Willock should leave Newcastle this summer
Football Insider verdict
Willock’s is now entering his fifth full season at St James’ Park, after an initial loan move from Arsenal was turned permanent in 2021, but his influence on Howe’s team looks to have waned over the last few years.
He was once a shining light under the Magpies boss, as he went on an incredible scoring run towards the end of his first half-season at the club, but their desire to compete among English football’s elite has meant he has somewhat fell by the wayside in recent campaigns.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 143 | 18 | 8 |
At 25, he would be a stellar signing for a club vying to make it into Europe on a consistent basis, like Palace, and would surely be a starter in the majority of lower Premier League sides if he was to leave.
It does seem unlikely that Howe would let go of two of his fringe midfielders in one fell swoop, but Sean Longstaff’s failed Leeds United switch could mean that Willock is allowed to leave Tyneside soon, while Newcastle’s pursuit of England international Conor Gallagher makes it seem all the more likely that he makes an exit.