Steve Bruce plays down reports linking Mike Ashley with Newcastle sale

Steve Bruce has insisted there is “nothing in” claims Mike Ashley is close to selling Newcastle.

In an explosive press conference this morning Bruce also revealed Newcastle had a £35m bid for a midfielder accepted last week.

On a proposed takeover, Bruce played down the chance of the Saudi Public Investment fund buying the club.

Financier Amanda Staveley claims to be brokering a deal for Saudi cash to buy a Newcastle with a 20pc stake for the Reuben brothers tycoons.

Bruce said: “I don’t get involved. It is an unsettling effect in everyone. We are just concentrating on the game tomorrow.

“If there was something to talk about Lee Charnley (the MD) tell me. At the moment he says there is nothing in it.”

On the transfer front Bruce made a sensational claim.

He says the Geordies made a £35m swoop last week - believed to be for Boubakary Sounare, 20, an attacking midfielder for Lille - but failed because the star refused to move to Tyneside.

The deal would have been close to the club record paid in the summer for striker Joelinton.

Bruce reckons Newcastle have completed their business for January after the loan arrivals of Danny Rose, Nabil Bentaleb and Valentino Lazaro.

He admits Chelsea star Olivier Giroud turned down the chance to join United this week after they made a second attempt to sign him.

Bruce said: “We had a bid accepted which would have got close to our record transfer.

“It was accepted by the club but the player wanted to stay where he was.”

On Giroud he said: “It was not possible.”