Newcastle United transfer news: Toon to battle Crystal Palace for striker, Arsenal step up midfielder pursuit

While Newcastle United were able to edge out a 1-0 win over bottom club Sheffield United thanks to yet another goal from loanee Joe Willock, the home support still saw fit to voice their frustrations against manager Steve Bruce.

Now, however, former Toon boss Sam Allardyce has jumped to the defence of the 60-year-old, arguing that he was always going to face an uphill battle on Tyneside.

Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: "I think you're fighting against the situation at Newcastle - the expectation.

"When I was there, I was living with the expectation of Kevin Keegan and Alan Shearer, and if you didn't quite live up to that past expectation of what they were then…

"I would have loved an Alan Shearer who scored 22/24 goals every year – I would have bet us to finish in Europe at least if we still had him but we didn't.”

Indeed, Allardyce claims fans want to see “millions and millions and millions” spent every year in the transfer market.

The West Brom boss continued: "I had to rebuild Newcastle in my time and Steve has to do the best he possibly can for Newcastle with the players that he’s got and the squad they are trying to develop with what money is available – it makes life extremely difficult.”

We’ve gathered the best of today’s Premier League transfer speculation below...