Steve Bruce drops biggest Newcastle United transfer hint yet

Steve Bruce has all but ruled out a permanent signing this month.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

The January transfer window opens for business on Monday – and Steve Bruce is keen to strengthen his squad.

Newcastle United signed three loan players – Danny Rose, Nabil Bentaleb and Valentino Lazaro – a year ago, and Bruce says focus is again the loan market.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

And United's head coach believes that the coronavirus pandemic, which has cost clubs tens of millions of pounds, will limit the spending of most top-flight teams in the winter window.

Steve Bruce.Steve Bruce.
Steve Bruce.

“It's notoriously difficult, and especially with Covid and all that goes with it, the loss of income,” said Bruce.

“There are one or two things. We’re looking a the loan market, in particular, and thee are one or two things bubbling there. Whether they come to any fruition, we'll just have to see in the next week or so.

“But, if there's anybody actively that can help us, (we will act). Last year, we brought in three loan players, if you remember, who helped us towards the end of the season in particular, but it's never easy getting a loan player.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"The reason why you're getting him on loan usually is they're not playing or they've had a fall out, or they're recovering from injury or whatever, so we'll see what we can do and see if we can improve anything on the squad.”

Newcastle are 14th in the Premier League with 19 points ahead of Sunday’s home game against Leicester City.

Asked if it would be a missed opportunity if the club didn’t sign anyone this month, Bruce said: “Well, they have to be available in January first. I think it's fair to say that the loan market is what we're looking at, but I don't think we'll be alone.

“I can't see much being done in January because of the problems everybody is facing, and the money that every club’s haemorrhaging, so it will be the loan market that we will look at.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We did that last year, and did it very well, so we'll see what's out there. It's always notoriously difficult, and it could be even more difficult with all the Covid stuff that obviously has affected everybody.”

A message from the Football Clubs Editor

Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Newcastle United coverage 365 days a year.

This depth of NUFC coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.

Your support is much appreciated. Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor