BRUCIE GETS SET FOR DRY JANUARY
NEWCASTLE boss Steve Bruce is bracing himself for more transfer agony in the new year.
That’s because the Toon chief fears that whatever the Magpies’ plight in the months ahead, he will not be allowed to strengthen his squad when the window reopens – even with a loan signing.
Bruce was upset and frustrated when a move to bring Leicester’s Hamza Choudhury in on a seasonlong loan broke down late last month.
Reports claimed that Newcastle were unwilling to pay a £1million loan fee for the midfielder.
But sources close to the deal insist no loan fee was involved, with Leicester willing for him to move to St James’ Park for the rest of the campaign and the enforcer, 23, desperate to revive his flagging career.
Bruce was left stunned when the club told him hours before the deadline that they would not meet Choudhury’s £60,000-per-week wages.
The Newcastle boss is discovering the harsh realities of working under an owner who wants to get out.
But with Mike Ashley no nearer selling the club, his chequebook is likely to remain firmly closed.
Bruce was initially told that in the wake of the Covid pandemic, his budget would be £10m for the season.
He considered it a personal triumph when he persuaded the club to meet Arsenal’s £22m valuation for Joe Willock to buy the midfielder outright.
It was the second time inside 12 months he had sweet-talked Ashley into a major signing after splashing out around £20m on striker Callum Wilson from Bournemouth, despite him being 28 at the time.
But the Willock deal scuppered his chances of further adding to his squad and the consequences of that spending will be felt in January and beyond.