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Steve Bruce resigns as Sheffield Wednesday manager in bid to force through Newcastle appointment

Steve Bruce is still hoping to be able to link up with Newcastle United in China as he looks to force a breakthrough in the negotiations by resigning from Sheffield Wednesday.

Telegraph Sport revealed Bruce was set to be appointed by Newcastle last week but the switch had been temporarily halted over an increasingly acrimonious dispute over compensation.

Newcastle have a deal in place to sign Brazilian striker Joelinton from Hoffenheim, but the need to have a manager in place is growing more urgent by the day as they also need him to give the green light to that transfer.

Bruce is also aware time is his enemy as he looks to start the difficult process of replacing Rafa Benitez as manager. He knows he will walk in a toxic atmosphere on Tyneside with thousands of season tickets unsold and many strongly opposed to his appointment, but wants to make a start regardless.

Although sources have denied Sheffield Wednesday wanted £6m in order for Bruce to be allowed to leave a job he has only held for six months, they were looking for a multi-million pound settlement which Newcastle refused to pay for a manager on a one-year rolling contract.

Bruce had grown increasingly frustrated over the weekend at the failure to move things on and appears to have taken matters into his own hands. The 58-year-old knows time is precious given there are only 24 days until the close of the transfer window and he wants to get to work as quickly as possible.

Sources have denied Sheffield Wednesday wanted £6m in order for Bruce to be allowed to leave - Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Sources have denied Sheffield Wednesday wanted £6m in order for Bruce to be allowed to leave Credit: GETTY IMAGES

Even though the former Manchester United captain would like to be able to meet his new players and staff in China, it is doubtful the club will be able to get a visa unless they are given special dispensation by the Chinese government to fast track an application.

Given Manchester City were forced to delay their arrival in Shanghai by two days because the aircraft that was due to take them to play in the Premier League Asia Trophy did not have the correct documentation, Bruce’s presence in China would seem unlikely.

Instead he will hope his resignation forces Wednesday to accept he wants to leave and will focus his attention on player recruitment. Bruce is already aware of the names who have been scouted to arrive this summer and he will have to move rapidly to finalise their shortlist.

Newcastle need to sign at least two new strikers as Soloman Rondon’s loan deal has not been turned into a permanent move and they have sold Ayoze Perez to Leicester city. The Magpies also need a winger and a full back in this window. Bruce is also likely to argue they need another midfielder to replace Mo Diame who left on a free transfer last month.

It remains to be seen how Sheffield Wednesday react to Bruce’s resignation but it seems they will have little choice to accept they need to begin their own search for a replacement.

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