Steve Bruce is looking to raid his former side, Newcastle United, and take Sean Longstaff to new club West Brom in a free transfer at the end of the term, according to Calciomercato.
The Baggies offered Bruce his return to the dugout earlier this month after the Toon sacked the 61-year-old in October. Newcastle fired the coach after 27-months in charge following a winless start to the season. They lost five of their opening eight Premier League games.
Results under the Englishman left United in a relegation fight and opted to change course with their new Saudi-led owners. Whereas West Brom moved to appoint Bruce as Valerien Ismael’s replacement to spearhead their push for promotion out of the Championship.
Bruce is yet to win any of his opening four games at The Hawthorns, with three defeats and one draw. Yet the Baggies boss is already looking to the summer and where to strengthen.
Bruce wants Newcastle midfielder Longstaff in free West Brom transfer
Bruce believes Longstaff can improve the midfield he has available at West Brom with the 24-year-old’s Newcastle future uncertain. He is out of contract at the end of the term when his existing £25k-a-week terms expire. He penned his current deal back in December 2018.
But talks are ongoing between the Toon and their academy product over an extension, per The Telegraph’s Luke Edwards. Yet he may favour a move away from Tyneside, having only held a sporadic role since boss Eddie Howe replaced Bruce at the St James’ Park helm.
Longstaff started six of Bruce’s eight Premier League games compared to two of Howe’s 12 so far with Newcastle. The Athletic also reported the midfielder – who Michael Carrick once called ‘fantastic’ – would have joined Everton this January had they not fired Rafa Benitez.
Benitez awarded Longstaff his Newcastle breakthrough in 2018 and coaxed the best form from the Newcastle-born technician. He has since struggled to recapture the levels shown under the Spaniard following a serious knee ligament injury, particularly under Bruce.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
