STEVE BRUCE is planning to strengthen his Newcastle United squad with a move for Aston Villa midfielder John McGinn, according to reports.
It would be the second time the pair have linked up after Bruce signed McGinn from Hibernian while in charge of Villa in 2018.
Newcastle boss Steve Bruce is eyeing a reunion with Aston villa midfielder John McGinnCredit: Mirror Group
The Magpies will be hoping their pursuit of the Scotland international will be made easier if the Midland side are relegated from the Premier League.
Manchester United have previously been linked to the 25-year-old but it is thought the return to fitness of Paul Pogba has delayed the need for midfield reinforcements.
The Daily Star report Bruce will be determined to sign McGinn if Aston Villa go down.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the Newcastle takeover bid from Saudi Arabia, manager Bruce is keen to get the club’s transfer business done early.
Bruce, who has just hit the one-year mark in charge of his hometown club, is hoping to bring four new faces through the door this summer.
“Obviously we need to see where we are and what we are but we are pressing on and planning in terms of going forward,” he said.
“And hopefully, we’ll be in a position to do some business sooner rather than later.”
Danny Rose looks set to make his loan move to St James’ Park permanent but options on fellow loanees Nabil Bentaleb and Valentino Lazaro are unlikely to be taken up.
Bruce has identified McGinn as his next target, with his former club Villa unlikely to hold on to their best players in the event of relegation.
Newcastle play their penultimate match of the 2019-20 season at 6pm on Monday night as they visit Brighton.
Newcastle star Allan Saint-Maximin shows off his football trick skills in training
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
