Toon boss expecting quiet transfer month
STEVE Bruce is not expecting the January transfer window to be a bustling affair this year with the football world hit by Covid.
United brought in three loan deals last season in Danny Rose from Tottenham Hotspur, Nabil Bentaleb from Schalke 04 and Valentino Lazaro from Inter Milan but they are yet to make such a breakthrough this time around - despite being linked with a host of possible targets so far.
The big issue Bruce has is clearing out his squad and, while Rolando Aarons has left permanently to join Huddersfield Town to clear some of the wage bill, players such as Henri Saivet, Achraf Lazaar and Christian Atsu remain on the books but ineligible to play in the Premier League as the squad is currently full.
Bruce, speaking at his [ress conference ahead of the Arsenal game, said: “I cannot see much being done. I know Manchester United have done some business but look at the way Covid has affected the world financially - I cannot see much being done.
“We will still keep working away, bashing away at it, but last year we used the loan market particularly well. It is an area where we will look at and we will see.”
When asked if loan deals could be done later in the window, Bruce added: “Usually that is the case.”
The Newcastle boss is eager to settle the majority of his squad down for the second half of the season and sees Republic of Ireland international Ciaran Clark as a key man going forward.
The 31-year-old, pictured below, has been in good form despite disappointing team results. Bruce added: “We are talking to Ciaran. There are one or two or three we will be looking at and having discussions about. “Ciaran has done very well for me so we hope there is positive news in that respect.”
Bruce was asked whether he could see Premier League chiefs hitting the pause button on games again like they did last March during lockdown.
He said: “They will have to be looking at it. Financially, it is right to play on, of course, but, for me, morally it is probably wrong. “I understand that people want to see a game of football but we are just as vulnerable to catch this virus as everyone else.” Bruce will be able to name skipper Jamaal Lascelles in his side if he needs to against the Gunners with the centre-back now available after six weeks out with Covid.
Bruce said: “Of course you are going to miss your captain and you are going to miss a player who can do something different and win us a match at the top end of the pitch in Allan Saint-Maximin.” With Saint-Maximin unfit, having not been able to train in December, Bruce said it would be a “long process” for him in terms of his return.