According to Sky Sports, Steve Bruce is keen to sign Charlie Austin, Stanley N’Soki and Emil Krafth once Allain Saint-Maximin’s ‘imminent’ move to Newcastle is completed.
Saint-Maximin’s medical is expected to take place over the weekend, with Sky claiming a deal for the Frenchman is all but done, however it looks like Bruce is keen to sign another THREE at least.
Here’s a snippet from Sky Sports’ latest piece on Saint-Maximin’s move to St James’ Park, suggesting Bruce still wants to bring in a striker and two full-backs after the Frenchman arrives:
‘Saint-Maximin’s imminent arrival will follow the record £40m signing of Joelinton from Hoffenheim last week, with the Brazilian signing a six-year-deal at St James’ Park.
‘Sky Sports News understands Southampton striker Charlie Austin is also on Steve Bruce’s list of transfer targets after forward Ayoze Perez left the North East for Leicester, and frontman Joselu’s departed for Alaves.
‘Bruce is also keen on signing Sweden international full back Emil Krafth and PSG defender Stanley N’Soki.‘
I struggle to see Mike Ashley sanctioning a deal for Austin myself.
Yes he’s available on the cheap after being frozen out at Southampton, but he’s just turned 30 and may be on decent wages, not forgetting the fact he’s not been in the best of form over the past two years.
As for N’Soki and Krafth, the arrival of new full-back options on either side would be a welcome one, however, as things stand, it sounds like we’re yet to agree personal terms with the former and yet to have a bid accepted for the latter.
