New Steve Bruce updates emerge after Sheffield Wednesday talks - What a mess..
The Chronicle's Lee Ryder and the BBC's Adam Oxley claim that Newcastle STILL have no agreement in place with Sheffield Wednesday for Steve Bruce.
I didn't think this summer could get much worse, but us struggling to agree a deal to sign Championship manager Steve Bruce has to be a new low point.
It was reported earlier today that the club were yet to agree a compensation package, and it seems Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri is continuing to play hardball - and rightly so at this stage of pre-season.
Here's what Lee Ryder's had to say, stating that talks are continuing, but admitting that the overall cost of the deal is being increased with Bruce's wingmen Steve Agnew and Stephen Clemence also being targeted:
What's more, BBC Sheffield's Adam Oxley is still insisting that we're yet to even make a formal approach for the 58-year-old, with him confirming that he took training today at Middlewood as normal.
Going for Bruce was a bad move as it is, but making an attempt to appoint him when he's said to have a hefty compensation fee attached to his current contract makes it all the more bemusing.
It's time we ended these talks (which should have never started!) and pursued someone else - although I dread to think who the next target would be when we've now gone from Allardyce to Bruce in the space of a week! Tony Pulis anyone?
A big part of me really hopes this one falls through, but time really isn't on our side with the transfer window shutting in less than 4 weeks time.
What a complete and utter shambles.
