According to The Chronicle, Steve Bruce had to abandon plans to sign Ross Barkley or Ruben Loftus-Cheek because four Newcastle United players didn’t leave.
It’s claimed that Bruce wanted to bring in one of the two Chelsea midfielders on loan, but needed to clear money off the wage bill.
The sizeable loan fees and high wage contributions meant Newcastle couldn’t justify deals, and they saw Barkley join Aston Villa before Loftus-Cheek sealed a late move to Fulham.
It turns out that Newcastle were hoping to flog Achraf Lazaar, Henri Saivet, Christian Atsu and Rolando Aarons to make cash available for Barkley or Loftus-Cheek.
The quartet make up around £100,000-a-week on the Newcastle wage bill, and whilst they will be released next summer, Newcastle can’t get rid at the moment.
Atsu could join Watford or Nottingham Forest on loan, whilst League One side want Aarons. There is ‘tepid’ interest in Lazaar and Saivet, meaning they may just be sat on the sidelines this season.
Bruce didn’t sign any of these players, and Atsu is the only one to really play under the current Newcastle boss, at least in the first half of last season.
None of them have futures at Newcastle, so seeing moves for Barkley and Loftus-Cheek essentially blocked by them still being at St James’ Park is hugely frustrating for Bruce.
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