Newcastle United are due to hold talks with on-loan left wing back Jetro Willems before the end of the year, according to the Northern Echo.
The newspaper claims that the Dutch international’s representatives are ready to sit down with the Magpies to discuss their client’s future.
And it’s expected that the club will do so, and there’s a good chance that the Newcastle hierarchy will attempt to tie up a deal for the 25-year-old in January.
That’s despite the purchase option in his existing loan deal not kicking in until the end of the summer, meaning the north east giants would have to sort a deal with Eintracht Frankfurt to sign him permanently ahead of schedule.
OPINION
This seems like an absolute no brainer for Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce. Obviously Matt Ritchie’s injury problems have helped Willems in regards to game time, but there’s no doubt that he has made the most of his opportunity. Even if the Scotsman was back fully fit right now, you could argue that he wouldn’t get in the team ahead of the Frankfurt loanee anyway. Obviously the Magpies could simply wait until the end of the season and exercise their purchase option then, but they would be giving the player – and by extension the team – a boost by bringing him in on a permanent basis six months early. Given how he has played this term, why wouldn’t they do that? The statistics show that Willems has been really terrific in a black and white shirt. As per WhoScored.com, the Dutchman has scored twice this season, while grabbing two assists as well. He’s also averaging 1.1 shots and 1.1 successful dribbles per game, as well as 2.3 tackles and two clearances. On both the offensive and defensive end, he has been tremendous.
