Scott Parker believes Jack Grealish's £100m move to Man City will lead to further deals 'down the chain' as Newcastle United look to finally make a breakthrough this summer.
With just eight days to go until the new season gets under way, the Magpies remain the only Premier League club not to have made a signing this summer.
Although the market was particularly slow earlier in the window, due to the pandemic and the Euros, business has picked up elsewhere in recent weeks.
READ MORE: 'Dinosaur' comment hints at thinking behind Newcastle owner Mike Ashley's move
The three newly-promoted clubs - Brentford, Norwich and Watford - have been particularly active while sides in the top half are starting to make big statements.
Manchester United have agreed a fee with Real Madrid for Raphael Varane having already signed Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho last month; Arsenal have spent £50m on Brighton defender Ben White; and City, of course, have broken the British transfer record after triggering Grealish's release clause at Villa.
Those big-money transfers will lead to a domino effect; Villa, for example, signed Emi Buendia and Danny Ings with Grealish's departure in mind and, in turn, Norwich and Southampton are targeting replacements.
Bruce has previously said that Newcastle were 'going to have to let the big, big clubs' go to work because of the loan market the Magpies were looking at.
The so-called big six are wary of letting some players go out on loan until later in the window when they have made their own signings and started to finalise their 25-man squads.
And former Newcastle captain Parker, who is now in charge of Bournemouth, believes Grealish's move to City could yet open the door for further deals this summer.
"£100m spent on one player will probably get shifted down the chain," he told reporters.
"That's probably like anything. You look really closely not just in sport. You look at anything, really. That's the way it works."
Do you want an exclusive pre-season Newcastle United preview - both in your inbox and through your letterbox? Head over here to find out more and secure your copy
