• e-mail

Joe Willock is set to complete his £22million move to Newcastle from Arsenal after agreeing personal terms.

The deal had stalled in the early part of the week with the 21-year-old preferring not to sign the six-year contract offered by the Magpies.

An agreement on that and his financial package has now been reached and Willock will undergo a medical on Tyneside.

Newcastle have held positive talks with Joe Willock and a deal should be agreed today  

Mikel Arteta looks set to allow the 21-year-old academy product to leave Arsenal this summer

The midfielder scored eight times during a loan spell at St James’ Park last season and, while Steve Bruce’s transfer budget was originally limited to around £10m this summer, it was always known Mike Ashley would make an exception for Willock.

The player’s wages will be in line with the club’s top earners - such as Callum Wilson and Allan Saint-Maximin, who make in excess of £80,000-per-week - and it is said that has raised eyebrows elsewhere in the dressing-room.

However, there is no doubting the talent and popularity of Willock and Newcastle believe they have landed a coup given the profile of the young Englishman. 

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on Thursday: 'What he's done is put himself in a really strong position where he can choose a little bit with more options of what his future could look like.

'This is what we're trying to define right now.' 

Willock is poised to leave Arsenal on a permanent basis as he looks to play regular football

Willock was left out of the Arsenal squad for their pre-season friendly against Tottenham on Sunday.

After the game, Arteta was asked about Willock's omission and said: 'We will explain the reasons when we can.'

A product of Arsenal's academy, who joined at the age of four, Willock has made 78 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 11 goals.