Steve Bruce, Manager of Newcastle United. (Photo by Peter Powell - Pool/Getty Images)Steve Bruce, Manager of Newcastle United. (Photo by Peter Powell - Pool/Getty Images)
Steve Bruce, Manager of Newcastle United. (Photo by Peter Powell - Pool/Getty Images)

Bruce wants deal for 'hungry' talent, Sky pundit urges PL rivals to raid Newcastle

Newcastle United manager Steve Bruce has claimed that he “sincerely” wants to tie winger Jacob Murphy down to a new contract St. James’ Park.

The 26-year-old’s current deal on Tyneside expires at the end of the season, and at the moment, there is no concrete indication as to whether or not he will sign an extension.

But after coming into the side in recent weeks and offering a bright spark in the final third, Bruce has admitted that he would like to hang on to the wide man.

Speaking in a press conference on Friday, the Toon manager said: “I sincerely hope that we tie Jacob down.

“He has been big plus this season after spending a couple of years out on loan.

“He has played a big part in the season.

“He has had, for him, a really good season where he knows now that he can convince himself that he belongs in the Premier League and I have been very, very pleased with him.

“So moving forward, I would love to see him at the club.

“That is what we want: young, hungry, determined to do well, and ticks all those boxes.”

Murphy has scored one goal and assisted two more in 18 top flight appearances this term, but has also made more successful dribbles than anybody except Allan Saint-Maximin, and has made the fourth-highest number of key passes per 90 minutes of any player in Newcastle’s squad, as per Whoscored.

Elsewhere, Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie has urged former club Aston Villa to make a play for Toon striker Callum Wilson if the Magpies are relegated this season.

The 29-year-old has scored 10 times in the Premier League this season despite missing a considerable chunk of the campaign through injury.

And Hendrie is convinced that he would be a top signing for Dean Smith’s side.

Speaking to Transfer Tavern, he said: “Callum Wilson’s scored goals in a team that’s really struggled this season, so there’s certainly lots of elementswhere you’d look and think ‘yes’.

"They’re the players you sort of try and bring into the club and nurture and push it forward.”

We’ve gathered the best of the rest of today's Premier League transfer speculation below: