Steve Bruce drops transfer hint at Newcastle United and reveals weekly Steve Nickson meetings

The club, which takes on Leicester City at the King Power Stadium tonight, is 17th in the table and nine points above third-bottom Fulham.

A win would all but secure the club’s top-flight status for another season.

Bruce has been meeting head of recruitment Steve Nickson on a weekly basis at the training ground ahead of the summer transfer window, but no decisions will be taken until the club is mathematically safe.

Asked about planning for the transfer window, Bruce said: “Look, I have a meeting with Steve Nickson every week when he comes into the training ground. That's a constant.

"The really big decisions have been put on hold until we secure our Premier League status. I think that's only right.

"Our total focus is on the club and keeping it in the division. Let's be fair, a few weeks ago we were really up against it, we still are. We can't take anything for granted.

"The big, huge discussions should only take place when we have secured our Premier League status. When we know where we are.”

Newcastle signed three free agents last summer – Ryan Fraser, Jeff Hendrick and Mark Gillespie – and the club will again be looking at Bosman signings as it grapples with the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic, according to Bruce.

"Every club will be the same,” said Bruce. “They’ll be looking at Bosmans, which are always attractive for obvious reasons.

"But I have to say to everybody, I can't see there been swathes of money anywhere in the Premier League. The discussions I've had with other managers, the situation is the same. The football world has lost millions during Covid. I can't see a load of money being spent this summer."

The club also has to deal with a number of contractual issues, with Federico Fernandez, Andy Carroll, Paul Dummett and Jacob Murphy among those out of contract at the end of the season.

United have the option to extend Fabian Schar’s contract by another year.

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