Report: Newcastle to reject chance to sign £10m-rated player permanently

Add as preferred source on Google

Newcastle United are likely to pull out of a deal to sign left-back Jetro Willems due to his long-term injury concern, according to Bild.

The defender has returned to Eintracht Frankfurt where he is facing nine months out after rupturing his cruciate knee ligament against Chelsea.

Willems had adhered himself to Newcastle supporters with a series of energetic performance on the left-hand side.

His link-up play with Allan Saint-Maximin had been a joy to behold before his cruel injury blow.

The 25-year-old had scored twice and registered three assists in his first 20 appearances for the Magpies.

A permanent deal had looked a foregone conclusion but Newcastle could now pull out of the £10 million deal.

Willems has two years left to run on his contract with the Bundesliga outfit and he might not earn a move until his injury heals.

Newcastle are 13th in the Premier League table and Willems’ injury has hampered the progress of Steve Bruce’s team.

The energetic player is unlikely to play again until February 2021 at the earliest and signing him permanently doesn’t seem logical.

It does leave Bruce to head back to the drawing board.

The beauty of Willems was his ability to play anywhere down the left-hand side whether it be in a defensive role or a more advanced attacking position.

Newcastle aren’t exactly free-spending and signing a player of Willems’ quality for £10 million would have been a no-brainer.

The news will upset supporters who had grown fond of the Dutchman and they will hope a replacement can be added in the summer.