Newcastle United may struggle to bring in replacements for Andy Carroll and Dwight Gayle - and therefore keeping them both on Tyneside would be a 'viable alternative.'
Both strikers have offers of an extension with their current deals coming to an end later this month.
A lot of Toon fans were not overly pleased with the news Carroll could stay for another season, the worry for some is whether United would have the budget to replace them.
It's believed that Newcastle will be operating on a limited budget this summer.
Speaking on The Everything is Black and White Podcast, our chief sports writer Lee Ryder shared his view: "If they don't stay, you're talking about £30m to £40m to sign two strikers and that's £30m-£40m I'm told Newcastle don't have due to a limited budget.
"It's alright saying 'don't give them the deals' but what is the alternative? They've no one coming through the ranks.
"These are viable alternatives for them."
LISTEN TO THE FULL PODCAST BY CLICKING HERE
Collectively Carroll and Gayle only started six games last season - netting just one goal each.
Callum Wilson was Bruce's first choice up-top but the striker suffered injury issues but even when absent, neither Carroll nor Gayle were often picked to replace him.
Asked about a potential Carroll extension, Ryder added: "For me, it would be a deal I would do - I get that people want someone to come in and match Callum Wilson but he wasn't always fit last season, he had injury problems of his own and if you have got someone who is the exact same type of player who is looking to start every single weekend, it could get tricky.
"You have to build a squad where you have players who are not going to play every week and I think Andy Carroll has reached an age where he accepts he won't start every week.
"He's had criticism about his fitness but I don't think you can say about him, and yes he was hugely helped by the lockdown where he had three months to rest and recover, but he was available for 35 out of 38 squads last season.
"If you have him available I think you give him a chance.
"I've seen people say 'he only got one goal' and I get that but I don't think he's a player who will be judged on goals - he's someone who you can throw on in the final 20 minutes and he gives you an aerial threat at both ends.
"I think because he's so unique, he knows the club and is a good dressing room influencer, he's worth keeping for the money we're talking about per week."
On Gayle, he said; "He didn't get too many opportunities towards the end of last season - there were a couple of games when he came in and was probably lacking sharpness, he missed a couple of chances. It was tough for him but I do think there is a contract there if he wants to sign it."
