Steve Bruce would 'love' if Newcastle United made a signing before the start of the season - and the Magpies' head coach may be about to get his wish after the club agreed a fee with Arsenal for number one target Joe Willock.
With just six days to go until the first game of the new campaign, against West Ham, Newcastle are the only Premier League side who have yet to bring in a player this summer.
However, on Sunday night, it emerged that Newcastle had finally reached a breakthrough after agreeing a deal worth more than £20m with Arsenal for Willock.
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There is still work to do - personal terms need to be agreed and Willock has to pass a medical - but signing the midfielder on a permanent basis would send out a real statement to both the fans and squad after his remarkable loan spell last season.
Bruce has always remained 'quietly confident' that Newcastle would make a 'couple' of additions before the end of the window and the Magpies' boss may yet be proved right.
"Look, I would love to make a signing before West Ham," he told reporters on Saturday before the Willock news emerged. "We're pursuing our number one target.
"We're trying as best we can. Let's hope we can make a breakthrough. If we can, great, and if that's before this week? We're trying our best."
