Toon join hunt for £40m Wales ace

NEWCASTLE United have joined the £40m race for Wales Player of the Year David Brooks.

Toon boss Steve Bruce is said to view Brooks as the creative link his side were missing for much of the season.

But Bruce faces a battle to land the hugely gifted 23-yearold, with a glut of other Premier League clubs also chasing Brooks’ signature.

A bidding war is set to erupt, with Bournemouth feeling they can get as much as £40m for their man, a hefty profit after signing him for £11.5m from Sheffield United.

Jose Mourinho wants to take Brooks to Tottenham, while West Ham, Leicester and Crystal Palace are keen.

Premier newcomers Leeds United are also monitoring the Brooks situation, with boss Marcelo Bielsa feeling he would slip effortlessly into the Elland Road club’s easy-on-the-eye style of play.

Manchester United were previous suitors for Brooks, although they have set their sights elsewhere.

Brooks is still officially the Welsh Player of the Year, an award he won in 2019 despite having an injury-ravaged campaign.

He was plagued by ankle problems, but proved his fitness again post-lockdown and is ready to hit the ground running for any new club next season.

Brooks scored seven goals and created five others during his first top-flight season at Bournemouth in 2018-19 and has proved himself at the highest level with Wales with his goals, pace, passing and dribbling ability.

That form for Wales, as well as in the Premier League, has alerted the big guns.