Newcastle United working on 'one or two' deals ahead of takeover

The club is the subject of a £300million takeover bid which is with the Premier League for approval.

However, that hasn’t stopped United addressing contractual issues, and striker Carroll, 31, this week signed a new one-year deal, while 26-year-old defender Manquillo agreed a four-year contract. Midfielder Matty Longstaff, 20, has also been offered a new deal.

Asked about the significance of the Carroll and Manquillo moves, Bruce said: “Discussions have been going on for a bit with them. What’s happened in the last three or four months with lockdown has stalled everybody.

“Manquillo’s done very, very well, and rightly deserves a contract. I think he’s done fantastically well with the competition with Yedlin and Emil walking through the door. He’s rolled up his sleeves and not put a foot wrong. I’m delighted to have tied him up, and Andy as well.”

Newcastle have also been linked with a move for goalkeeper Mark Gillespie, who is a free agent after leaving Motherwell.

“What we can do is just take care of the business in front of us, and what we have at the minute,” said Bruce. “I can’t worry about what’s going on upstairs.

“We still have to plan ahead. That’s always a manager or coach’s job. You can’t stand still – if you stand still, you lose. We’re still working away on one or two things – it’s just business as usual.”

Newcastle-born Gillespie, 28, started his career at United, but left aged 16.