According to The Athletic, Newcastle were prepared to listen to transfer offers for defender Fabian Schar in the summer transfer window.

What’s the word?

Despite seemingly interested in bringing in a new centre-back to Steve Bruce’s squad – the likes of Rob Holding and Phil Jones were mooted as potential transfer targets – it’s now claimed the Magpies were also willing to let one go.

The Athletic’s Chris Waugh has claimed that the Tyneside club would have listened to offers for Switzerland international, Schar. It’s added that with Bruce having some misgivings over whether the former Basel man can play in a flat back four, he was keen on signing a new pacier defender.

Bruce should have been ruthless

If Bruce has doubts over using Schar, then he really should have forced the issue with the Newcastle board and made it clear that the Swiss ace had to be sold.

It would have brought in some much-needed funds to strengthen the squad elsewhere, and would also have removed his reported £40k-a-week wage bill off the books too.

Instead, by taking a more passive stance and just waiting for interested teams to potentially come in, it has left Newcastle in a predicament where they have a defender the manager doesn’t fancy.

Add that to the fact the Magpies didn’t even bring in the new central defender that they wanted, and it was a complete disaster for Bruce over the summer in that position.