STEVE BRUCE is hoping to complete up to two more transfers ahead of tomorrow’s deadline, but the Newcastle United boss is also set to sanction Jacob Murphy’s departure on loan.

Newcastle officials are close to agreeing a deal worth around £5m for Amiens full-back Emil Krafth, with the Sweden international understood to have agreed the framework of his personal terms.

Provided negotiations continue as planned this morning, it is hoped he will travel to Tyneside to complete a medical later today, enabling him to complete his move well ahead of tomorrow’s 5pm deadline.

Krafth’s arrival would complete Newcastle’s defensive reinforcements, with Jetro Willems also having moved to St James’ Park this summer.

However, Bruce remains interested in making a further attacking acquisition, with Bournemouth winger Jordan Ibe a potential target if the South Coast club agree to a loan deal. Newcastle have also been linked with Lille midfielder Thiago Maia, a player they have scouted on a number of occasions in the last 12 months.

“We are still hopeful that we have one or two things up our sleeve,” said Bruce, in an interview with Sky Sports. “I hope we are not finished (in the transfer market).

“We will know a little bit more in the next 24 hours. I would envisage we still have one or two bits still to do.”

When asked whether any more incomings would be dependent on players leaving, the Newcastle boss responded, “No”.

Krafth’s deal is furthest down the line, with Bruce keen to sign an alternative option to DeAndre Yedlin and Javier Manquillo at right-back.

The 25-year-old boasts a proven pedigree having spent the last four years playing for Bologna and Amiens, and has won 20 senior international caps with Sweden.

Newcastle’s initial offer was rejected last week, but a further round of talks in the last 24 hours has made an agreement much more likely.

There will also be players leaving Tyneside in the next two days, with Murphy currently assessing his options after he was told he was free to leave on loan.

Fulham, Derby, Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield have all expressed an interest in taking the winger on a season-long loan, and he is expected to select his preferred destination later today.

Murphy has struggled to make much of an impact since joining Newcastle in a £10m move from Norwich City two years ago, and spent the second half of last season on loan at West Brom.

He has been involved in the Magpies’ pre-season programme, but Bruce does not see him as an integral part of his future plans, and he will be sacrificed to free up some space in the 25-man squad list that has to be submitted to the Premier League later this week.

The same is true of Jack Colback, Henri Saivet and Achraf Lazaar, with the trio all available for either sale or loan before the transfer window swings shut.

Newcastle kick off the new Premier League season at home to Arsenal on Sunday, and while a number of supporters’ groups are still planning to boycott the game in protest at Mike Ashley’s running of the club, Bruce hopes he gets a fair crack of the whip after walking out on Sheffield Wednesday to take charge of his hometown club.

“It's still quite unbelievable that I am stood here as the manager of this great football club,” said Bruce. “I turned them down once before a long time ago, and with this opportunity I was totally selfish and I understand that.

“I've upset a lot of people in Sheffield and I can understand that too, but the opportunity to manage my hometown club was something which this time I couldn't let go. I'll do my utmost to take the club forward.

“I’m hoping that we can have a little bit of time. Whoever came in was going to have difficult shoes to fill. I've said to the supporters, ‘Give me a chance and judge me on what you see’. They are a passionate bunch, and I hope I can give them something to shout about.”