Bruce to keep open his transfer options
NEWCASTLE United had ‘ two or three things’ in place seven months before the summer transfer window even opened earlier this year.
These are unprecendented times - restrictions on travel have limited what the Magpies’ scouts can do abroad - but it goes without saying planning is already well under way for 2021.
Steve Bruce, like most managers, prefers to do his business in the summer because clubs are a little more open to selling players as there is more time to line up potential replacements.
Newcastle failed with a big-money bid for Lille midfielder Boubakary Soumare last January so Bruce ultimately carried over his mid-season transfer budget - and it would not be a surprise if the Magpies’ head coach opted to do that again.
However, if the right player becomes available on loan who would improve a particular department, do not be surprised if Newcastle are active next month.
A year ago, Bruce kept an eye on players who were a little out of favour.
However fanciful, Bruce explored moves for Granit Xhaka and Olivier Giroud last winter and you can bet he will be up to date on those players who need game time at Chelsea, Spurs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United in particular.
While Newcastle had no plans to sign a left-back before Jetro Willems suffered a serious knee injury 13 days before the window shut last January, tellingly the Magpies went on to target Danny Rose, who barely featured under Jose Mourinho at Spurs.
Newcastle will have to make room in their 25-man squad if they are to sign any players next month - but if there was any chance of, say, Fikayo Tomori, Japhet Tanganga or Xherdan Shaqiri becoming available on loan it will be interesting to see if United enquire.
Bruce has a good relationship with a number of top-six managers and that trust has proved crucial to promising players being loaned to his clubs in the past.
Take Mourinho, for example. During his time in charge of Manchester United, the Portuguese even signed off on extensions to Sam Johnstone and Axel Tuanzebe’s loans so Bruce could keep them at Aston Villa a little longer.
All the while, Mourinho was in regular contact to see how the loanees were getting on and those loan spells proved crucial to Johnstone and Tuanzebe’s development.
Just as Bruce will be assessing potential loan signings next month, the Newcastle head coach will also be looking ahead to the summer and you can bet the 59-year-old has been scanning the list of players who will be available on Bosmans.
Jeff Hendrick and Mark Gillespie knew of the Magpies’ interest long before they joined the club on free transfers last summer.
Bruce was keen for the hierarchy to listen to his request for players with Premier League experience - Gillespie, admittedly, has never played in the top-flight but the goalkeeper was previously on the club’s books so he has not needed much time to settle - and that was particularly important given the short turnaround before the new campaign got under way.
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dicated that shift in policy and Premier League experience will be an important quality in 2021, too.
To what extent? Well, in theory, Newcastle’s scouts will be able to roam more freely next year after having to rely on Wyscout in recent month.
Bruce said: “The technology today is quite remarkable but it is not quite the same as seeing people live.
“We are identifying targets and hopefully have the chance to see them live because buying someone without seeing them live is not my cup of tea.”
It will be interesting to see if Bruce again pushes for Premier League experience or if the upcoming summer window ends up a blend of his first summer in charge, when deals for Joelinton, Allan Saint-Maximin et al were already lined up before his appointment, and his most recent window, when British and Irish players were targeted.