Joe Willock is in charge of his own destiny, which cannot always be said of footballers. Alexander Isak had to go on strike to force Newcastle to sell him to Liverpool. Yoane Wissa took similar disruptive action during his departure the other way, Brentford to United.
And back buried in the musty files of yesteryear George Eastham famously quit football altogether, taking a job as a cork salesman to spark a landmark case that changed the face of football's transfer market forever. He was determined to leave United at the end of his contract and consequently 63 years ago fought the old retain and transfer system in the High Court and won. He had already belatedly got his wish to join Arsenal but pressed on and paved the way for the Bosman ruling.
Willock's options are straightforward
With Willock however it is very different. He can do what he likes. His options are straightforward: he can sign for his most passionate suitors Besiktas in January, penning a pre-contract deal which would see him become their player on a free transfer in the summer. He can wait until the season's end and then have a pick of any club who wants him on a free which would greatly enhance his signing-on fee and wages. Or he can sign a new improved contract with NUFC if offered one. It's his choice.
All United can do as a bottom line is accept a low fee from Besiktas come the new year as a means of getting something instead of nothing. Having burst into United's new-look first team under a new manager this season Willock has revelled in the No 10 role and currently is our joint top scorer with three goals.
Besiktas president reveals summer pursuit
Matthias Jaissle pleaded with the owners not to flog him to the Turkish giants in the summer window because United didn't have depth to their squad and Jaissle feared being caught short. However the Besiktas president Serdal Adali blew the doors off the garage in the last few days by revealing details of his summer endeavours to get Willock with the sort of open frankness that would horrify United's boss if he were called upon to do a similar thing in a SJP Press conference. Matthias is a master of saying very little and telling you precisely nothing which is the way he likes it.
Digest this from our Turkish friend for telling it the way it is: "Our manager (Vincenzo Italiano) wanted Willock in the summer. From day one it was Willock, Willock. Nobody knows this, but I brought Willock's whole family to Istanbul."
"They picked out a house, and they had video calls with Italiano and Onder (Besiktas director of football) at least ten times. Furthermore, we went to see the player in person twice. His contract ends at the end of the season. He can sign a pre-contract in the winter. We can sign him in January - in fact I will sign him."
United face a contract dilemma
So Jaissle and United's owners have a problem to solve . . . attempt to extend Willock's contract, take a small fee come January much less than the £20m they demanded during the close season, or accept he's going for nowt next summer.
Should Joe be swayed by the persistence of Besiktas then he will still be playing in black-and-white and be joining a club whose most successful manager was Bobby Robson's sidekick at Newcastle. And the same club where Les Ferdinand made his breakthrough while on loan to launch a glittering career which saw him star for the Entertainers and England.
Gordon Milne, still alive at 89 years of age, was Sir Bobby's Director of Football between 1999 and 2004. Milne, one of Bill Shankly's first signings at Liverpool where he played well over 200 games and was capped by England, managed Besiktas between 1987 and 1993 winning three consecutive Turkish league titles as well as domestic cups. His last championship in 1991-92 saw Besiktas become the only club to go through a Super Lig season unbeaten. Played 30, won 23, drawn seven, and lost none. Some record.
As for Sir Les he scored 14 goals in 24 appearances on loan at Besiktas during the 1988-89 season. Willock's record with the Magpies stands at 174 appearances and 14 goals spread over seven campaigns. By how many more games will it be extended?
