Newcastle already have six central midfield players competing for three places in the team and, despite their inconsistency this season, Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimarães and Joelinton remain first choice.
If Smit is going to head to St James’ Park, you suspect the transfer has to happen in January. If Newcastle wait until the summer there is likely to be considerable competition for his signature.
That is, perhaps, one of the reasons why Willock would also consider a move at this stage of his career.
Signed by Steve Bruce in 2021, after a successful loan spell from Arsenal, the player will be out of contract in 2027 and is unlikely to want to sign another one if he is not playing regularly.
Newcastle are well aware that, if they are going to sell, this might well be the time to do it in terms of getting a decent transfer fee for the player.
Newcastle need to evolve their squad. There is a desire at boardroom and football level to lower the average age of the squad, with several stalwarts of Howe’s side approaching their 30s or moving to the wrong side of it.
Willock has been a good player for Newcastle and may well still have a role to play over the next few months, but he is entering the peak years of his career and does not want to spend them being a back-up player, coming in and out of the starting XI with the odd cameo appearance from the bench.
