The renewed interest could also benefit Arsenal financially, with the former Gunners midfielder's contract at Newcastle understood to contain a 10 per cent sell-on clause in favour of his former club.
According to The Chronicle, Newcastle previously rejected a £10 million offer from Besiktas in July. The Magpies have been holding out for around £17 million for Willock, but there are growing indications that the Turkish side could now be prepared to meet that valuation.
If the deal goes through for £17 million, Arsenal would reportedly be entitled to around £1.7 million under the sell-on agreement.
Besiktas Step Up Pursuit
Besiktas' renewed approach comes as Willock enters the final year of his contract at St James' Park. The midfielder is reportedly available for a transfer, with Newcastle seemingly open to allowing him to leave if their valuation is met.
Willock joined Newcastle from Arsenal in February 2021, initially moving to the north-east on loan before making the transfer permanent later that year.
Since then, he has become a long-serving member of the Newcastle squad, making 183 appearances for the club. That figure is more than twice the number of senior appearances he made for Arsenal before leaving the Emirates.
The midfielder also made an immediate contribution this season, scoring in Newcastle's opening-day draw with Liverpool.
However, regular first-team football has not always been guaranteed for Willock. He made 39 appearances for Newcastle during the 2025/26 campaign but started only 18 of those matches, with five of his starts coming in domestic cup competitions.
Across Newcastle's Premier League and Champions League fixtures, Willock started just 26 per cent of the club's 50 matches, highlighting the competition for places in the midfield.
Arsenal Could Profit From Transfer
A potential move to Besiktas would therefore provide Willock with an opportunity to secure more consistent playing time while also giving Newcastle the chance to receive a significant transfer fee for a player entering the final year of his deal.
For Arsenal, the proposed transfer could bring an unexpected financial boost several years after Willock left the club.
The Gunners included a sell-on clause when the midfielder completed his permanent move to Newcastle, meaning they could receive 10 per cent of any transfer fee.
If Besiktas agree to Newcastle's reported £17 million asking price, Arsenal's share would be approximately £1.7 million.
The Athletic's Chris Waugh previously reported that Newcastle were willing to consider offers for Willock, making a departure increasingly plausible as the transfer window approaches its conclusion.
For the player himself, a move could be an opportunity to revive his career as a regular starter. At 26, Willock remains at an age where consistent first-team football could be important to his development and long-term prospects.
With Besiktas now seemingly prepared to return with an improved offer, the coming days could determine whether Willock begins a new chapter in Turkey—and whether Arsenal collect a useful windfall from his departure.