Here's what to expect from Newcastle United on transfer deadline day

Long before the transfer window opened, Steve Bruce moved to manage expectations at Newcastle United.

Loans, we were told, were the relegation-threatened club’s focus given the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and the club’s main focus ahead of today’s deadline is on bringing in a midfielder.

Bruce has admitted his admiration for Leicester City’s Hamza Choudhury, while the club has enquired about Arsenal’s Joe Willock. Ainsley Maitland-Niles is another option, and Celtic’s Olivier Ntcham has also been mentioned.

Newcastle had considered a move for former loanee Jetro Willems, but Bruce has ruled out a return this month given that the defender, keen on coming back to St James’s Park, hasn’t played a competitive game since recovering from knee surgery.

As far as outgoings, DeAndre Yedlin’s move to Galatasaray should be finalised – he will free up a place in United's 25-man Premier League squad – and Matt Ritchie could yet return to Bournemouth.

A proposed move broke down last summer over the Championship’s wage offer to the winger, whose family is based on the South Coast. Bruce will not stand in Ritchie’s way if the right offer is made for him.

Achraf Lazaar, out of contract at the end of the season, could be paid up ahead of a return to Serie A, while Henri Saivet and Christian Atsu are also available ahead of the summer expiry of their contracts.

The Longstaff brothers, Sean and Matty, look set to stay at the club, despite loan links to Valencia and Watford respectively.

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