---
title: "Newcastle United journalist says Steve Bruce is prioritising midfield"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/newcastle-united-journalist-says-steve-bruce-is-prioritising-strengthening-midfield-transfers-rumour-joe-willock-arsenal-callum-wilson-e221/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Caleb Sage"
section: "Newcastle United"
published: "2021-08-11T05:05:29Z"
modified: "2021-08-11T05:05:29Z"
---

# Newcastle United journalist says Steve Bruce is prioritising midfield

**Steve Bruce’s focus this transfer window is strengthening Newcastle United’s midfield rather than his options up front, journalist Liam Kennedy has told [The Transfer Tavern](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/).**

It has been a frustrating window for Newcastle with little transfer activity, though things are starting to pick up a little bit.

In what will come as a welcome development to the St. James’ Park faithful, Joe Willock is [close to signing for the club from Arsenal following an excellent loan spell](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58141002) on Tyneside last season.

\[freshpress-poll id=”369615″\]

Newcastle have also been linked with [other midfielders such as](https://theathletic.co.uk/2714997/2021/07/24/willock-gallagher-cajuste-choudhury-why-midfield-remains-newcastles-priority-in-transfer-window/) Jens Cajuste of FC Midtjylland and Leicester City’s Hamza Choudhury. And Kennedy expects that theme to continue, with that area of the pitch being a priority for Bruce in this moment of time.

*“I don’t think it \[striker\] is an area that they’re really focusing on,”* the [Shields Gazette](https://www.shieldsgazette.com/) reporter said.

*“I think they want a revamp in the midfield, which has been long overdue. Willock is the key to that and I think they want one other.”*

All things considered, Newcastle could probably do with revamping their attack as well. An injury to their first-choice No.9 Callum Wilson, something they did have to deal with [last season](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/callum-wilson/leistungsdaten/spieler/123682/plus/0?saison=2020), and the Magpies suddenly look very light up front.