Newcastle trying to sign Hamza Choudhury on loan from Leicester

Bruce is hoping to make a couple of additions in the next three days, and is talking to at least two different Premier League clubs about loan targets.

Talks with Leicester have been ongoing for more than a week, with Bruce hoping to add Choudhury to his midfield ranks.

He said: “He’s (Choudhury) somebody we’ve liked, and it’s (Newcastle’s interest) been reported. I’m never going to speak about anybody else’s players, I think that would be wrong.

“But he’s somebody that we do like, yes.

“We’ve had to be patient, but we’re still hopeful things will happen. I’ve got one or two calls to make to certain managers in the next 24 hours, but I always knew it was going to be a difficult window, certainly when you’re in the loan market.

“We’re not alone. A lot of teams are financially struggling, especially in the Championship, for example.

“It’s been very difficult in that respect, but we’re still hopeful we can get one or two over the line. We’ll see what the next couple of days brings.”

Newcastle have been linked with a return move for Willems throughout the first half of the season, but Bruce does not anticipate an approach for the left-back, who impressed on loan in the early stages of last season before picking up a serious knee injury that resulted in his return to his native Holland.

Bruce said: “I think Jetro hasn’t played enough, unfortunately.

“The problem we’ve got, in the loan market in particular, is whether there’s someone out there who has been playing, or who has been in and around it.

“We’re trying desperately to try to bring a couple through the door if we can. I said from the outset this would easily be the quietest transfer window that we’ve all known because of the consequences of Covid on clubs financially.

“But make no mistake, if there’s somebody out there who can improve us, then I’ll knock the door down to bring him in.”