Keith Downie ‘firmly expects’ Newcastle to sign a left wing-back before Friday’s deadline – but believes Bruce might be about to ‘gamble’ on the striker situation.
Sky Sports’ north-east reporter confirms we hold ‘firm interest’ in Danny Rose – yet admits we are one of ‘5 or 6’ Premier League clubs taking a look at the Spurs left-back.
On the striker situation, he claims Bruce is reluctant to sign another for the sake of it as he’ll have four fighting for one spot in the side when Carroll and Gayle are fit again – although he did privately bemoan his lack of options on the bench after Saturday’s stalemate vs Oxford.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ podcast’ Transfer Talk‘, here’s what Downie’s had to say:
“The takeover has nothing to do with the fact the transfer window is still open.
“As I understand, they’re still active in the market and are looking to bring in at least a left-back or left wing-back to play in their favoured 3-5-2 formation.
“They’re in the market for a left-back / left wing-back due to the injuries suffered by Jetro Willems and Paul Dummett.
“The only have Matt Ritchie so there is some firm interest in Danny Rose of Tottenham Hotspur.
“They’re not the only team in the Premier League – there’s 4, 5, 6 clubs interested in him (Rose). So Newcastle do want him, but whether they can get him or not remains to be seen. Steve Bruce even said that last Friday.
“There is also a need for a striker. After the match against Oxford on Saturday we saw Joelinton struggling a little bit again for form – it really hasn’t worked out for him so far.
“He needs a bit of assistance up there with injuries to their other two strikers Andy Carroll and Dwight Gayle, so Steve Bruce even said – he bemoaned the lack of striking options on the bench.
“I think he feels he does need one, but then he doesn’t want to bring one in if Gayle and Carroll come back and suddenly he’s got 4 for one position.
“So, yeh, it’ll be interesting to see if they do, but it’ll be very last minute if they did.
“I firmly expect them to get in a left-back because I know they need one, but if you’re asking me right now what I think they’ll do I think they will bring in a left-back / left wing-back – but whether that’s Danny Rose or not I don’t know.
“But I think he’ll take a gamble in the striking situation and go with what he’s got.”
For me, not signing a striker would be foolish.
OK, we don’t need to overspend or panic buy, but if a loan deal presents itself that gives us the chance to bring in an upgrade on Gayle and give Joelinton some much needed help, we should be all over it.
“he’ll have four fighting for one spot in the side when Carroll and Gayle are fit again”
It’s never been about quantity – It’s always been about quality.
When these 4 strikers you are talking about have scored 3 goals between them you can’t justify not buying.
Archie Brand(Quote)