Steve Bruce has asked Sheffield Wednesday owner Dejphon Chansiri for permission to enter talks with Newcastle United, according to the Times.
The newspaper claims that Chansiri, worth over £500million, is now willing to play hardball over Bruce’s future at Hillsborough amid interest from Newcastle and is reluctant to give a green light to talks.
It is understood that the Magpies would have to pay a compensation fee worth £5million to hire the former Sunderland manager, who was hired by Sheffield Wednesday in January.
OPINION
It is not hard to see why Chansiri is so keen to keep hold of Bruce. He only hired the 58-year-old in January and since taking charge of his first game, the ex-Aston Villa boss won seven and drew eight of his 18 games. Bruce did well at Hillsborough in the second half of last term so Sheffield Wednesday have every right to fight to keep hold of him. Newcastle, on the other hand, might have a change of heart if Chansiri proves too difficult to deal with. As everyone knows, Mike Ashley is not an owner who likes to spend money and that £5million valuation of Bruce’s compensation costs is surely something alarming to the Magpies chief. It would go down well among the Newcastle supporters if they did miss out on Bruce due to Chansiri’s hardline stance. He’s a former Sunderland boss who is good in the Championship but hasn’t done much spectacular in the Premier League. Newcastle can, and should, do better.
