According to The Mirror (03/01, p65), Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce will snub Derby County’s interest in taking Matty Longstaff on loan.
It’s claimed that Wayne Rooney is keen to take Longstaff on loan for the rest of the season, giving him first-team playing time at Pride Park.
However, Bruce is ready to reject their interest and keep Longstaff at Newcastle beyond the end of the January transfer window.
Bruce allegedly feels that he needs to maintain the strength of his squad due to the ongoing global pandemic, meaning Longstaff won’t be allowed to go.
The 20-year-old started all three games over the festive period, playing 90 minutes against Manchester City, Liverpool and Leicester City.
Longstaff has impressed despite Newcastle taking just one point from those games, and he looks primed for a run in the starting lineup.
That will disappoint Derby, and Rooney will have to look elsewhere if he wants a new midfielder as Bruce prepares to ditch any plans to loan Longstaff out this month.
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