Steve Bruce reveals 'wow' moment which helped clinch Valentino Lazaro deal

The Inter Milan winger yesterday joined Newcastle United on loan for the rest of the season.

Lazaro had also been a target for RB Leipzig, the Bundesliga leaders, and Max Hagmayr, his agent, visited both clubs.

Hagmayr was at St James’s Park for last weekend’s 1-0 win over Chelsea at St James’s Park.

The game was decided by a 94th-minute goal from Isaac Hayden, and the team’s never-say-die attitude – and the stadium’s reaction to the goal – impressed Hagmayr.

Asked about the club’s pitch to Lazaro, head coach Steve Bruce said: “Newcastle beating Chelsea last week with Lazaro’s agent here was ‘wow’.

“To beat competition like Leipzig is terrific for a club like us. He could have gone to the top of the Bundesliga. It just shows that we’ve still got that little bit of a pull where people want to play for a big club with the support we’ve got, and the Premier League’s always a pull.

“Lazaro’s all about playing and going to the Euros and playing with Austria. We’ve worked extremely hard pull it off, people behind the scenes as well, because when somebody like him becomes available, then I’m sure there were many suitors.”

Lazaro is the club’s second transfer window signing after Nabil Bentaleb, who has joined on loan from Schalke 04.

The team has found goals hard to come by so far this season – and Bruce believes the loan signings can help.

“I think the addition of Lazaro and Bentaleb will help us in that respect,” said Bruce. “They can create, and I think the creation of the team needs improving. It's alright just blaming the strikers, but they’ve got to have the service. We don't cross it enough.

“This kid, Lazaro, will cross it in my opinion. We don't get a lot of chances, but, mind you, for 50% of the games, we have been without Allan (Saint-Maximin). He’ll cause anyone a threat. It's good to see him back – he will give us a chance.

“Certainly, Lazaro and Bentaleb will certainly add to it.”