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Report: What Bruce privately said about Newcastle target Hamza Choudhury
Steve Bruce privately suggested that Hamza Choudhury would have the potential to transform Newcastle United’s midfield as he tried to sign the Leicester City man in the summer, .
It proved to be a hugely frustrating window for Magpies fans. The deadline passed with Joe Willock proving to be the only addition to the first-team.
And of course, he was a player who was on loan at St James’ Park for the second-half of last season and will have to produce an incredible run to go near matching his efforts of his first spell.
Bruce’s men were linked with a host of names, as The Athletic notes. However, no player seemed to be as strongly linked during the final hours of the window than Choudhury.
The Magpies wanted to take the Foxes youngster on loan.
The Athletic suggests that the 23-year-old has been on the Newcastle boss’ radar for at least a year.
And he was his top holding midfield target for this window.
So much so, that Bruce privately declared that Choudhury had the potential to be a transformative signing for the club’s midfield.
Is it a worrying sign Bruce had such high hopes for Choudhury?
In fairness to Bruce, Willock’s initial spell highlights that it is a brave move to suggest that any player could not prove an inspired loan signing.
Few – surely, Bruce included – could have foreseen just how important that agreement with Arsenal would prove to be.
And with that, Bruce’s reported claim about Choudhury cannot be dismissed.
However, it is arguably a concerning sign that the Newcastle boss was so optimistic about what impact Choudhury could have.
That is because he only made four Premier League starts for Leicester last term. In fact, he saw just over 300 minutes of top flight action throughout the campaign.
So expecting him to be a transformative loan signing would have been a huge ask.