Steve Bruce closing in on dream Newcastle job after meeting with Toon managing director Lee Charnley
STEVE BRUCE met Newcastle managing director Lee Charnley last night as he closed in on his dream job.
Sheffield Wednesday’s boss, 58, arrived home in Manchester yesterday after his club’s pre-season trip to Portugal.
SunSport understands he then held talks with Charnley, who has identified Bruce as the man he wants to replace Rafa Benitez.
Newcastle are prepared to pay £1million in compensation to get the former Sunderland manager out of his one-year rolling deal at Hillsborough.
And they want Bruce in by the end of the week, when the team travel to China for the Premier League Asia Trophy.
The Geordie only took charge of the Owls in February but they have cash problems and are under a transfer embargo.
So Bruce is expected to accept the chance to boss his boyhood club, despite being warned about working under Newcastle owner Mike Ashley.
SunSport revealed yesterday Bruce was the Toon’s top target after Mikel Arteta, Patrick Vieira and Roberto Martinez all turned them down.
But he faces a battle to win over the Toon Army, who are furious their club might be getting a man with a Sunderland past.
SunSport reported yesterday how Manchester City No 2 Arteta and Nice chief Vieira were both warned off the job by Benitez.
most read in football
And ex-Everton chief Martinez wants to lead Belgium to glory in next summer’s Euros.
That has left Newcastle more anxious than ever to land a new boss ahead of Saturday’s pre-season trip to China.
Academy head Ben Dawson and Under-23s coach Neil Redfearn are in temporary charge.