Sheffield Wednesday boss Steve Bruce is expected to be announced as the new manager of Newcastle United within the next few days and has already made signing a new striker his top priority, according to The Sun (12/07, page 55).

Bruce has emerged as the new favourite to succeed Rafa Benitez in charge of Newcastle and has already held talks with the club over the vacant managerial position at St James' Park.

The appointment is expected to be confirmed within the coming days, although the deal now hinges on a compensation agreement between Newcastle and Sheffield Wednesday.

The Sun (12/07, page 55) are now reporting that Bruce has already made signing a new striker his top priority for Newcastle, which strongly suggests that he has decided to take the job.

Bruce took charge at Hillsborough in February, replacing Jos Luhukay who was sacked in December and was able to guide Sheffield Wednesday to a top-half finish in the Championship last season.

The Verdict

This is a major concern for Sheffield Wednesday. Bruce has shown during just a few months at Hillsborough that he is capable of achieving success at the club, but the fact that he has already started making plans for Newcastle strongly suggests that he has accepted the job at St James' Park.

It now seems only a matter of time before he is appointed and it will be a major blow for Sheffield Wednesday to lose him, especially so close to the start of the new season.

It doesn't leave the club with a lot of time to find a good replacement for him and whoever is appointed as his successor will not have a lot of time to work with the squad before the new season.