Mike Ashley hands Steve Bruce £10m to secure three summer signings - Report

Steve Bruce has been handed a measly £10million budget this transfer window, according to The Mail.

With the club still gripped in the clutches of a never ending takeover saga, many have wondered just how much (or how little!) Mike Ashley would make available for new signings this summer.

Now Craig Hope - a journalist who is well-connected at the club and the man to reveal the training ground bust-up back in March - has released details about our transfer kitty and who we are looking to sign.

The piece claims Bruce is in the hunt for two midfielders and a left-sided centre half, stating ‘at least’ two loan deals look likely - potentially a few domestic and one from overseas.

With money tight, loan deals and free transfers are likely, while Joe Willock is believed to remain Steve Bruce's top target; even if another temporary return seems far more likely.

NUFC have been linked with a host of centre halves this window and a deal for Celtic’s Kristoffer Ajer was rumoured to be agreed back in May.

However, the Scottish giants have reportedly moved the goalposts and are demanding upwards of £20m for the 23-year-old, which will almost certainly remove him from our radar.

I personally feel as though a backup striker to Callum Wilson is essential due to the England international having a troublesome injury record - not to mention the fact our options behind him are unreliable at best!

There were times last season when we became toothless in his absence and if Bruce has learned anything from the 20/21 campaign, it’s that he must bring somebody in that can step up to the plate - even if that is on another loan deal.