A new report on Sky Sports claims Steve Bruce wants Fabian Schar to be the secret weapon in a potential Newcastle bid for Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka.
Xhaka is likely to be on the move in January, after his public falling out with Gunners fans, after reacting angrily to their booing of him when he was substituted in a recent game against Crystal Palace.
Schar is a close friend of his Swiss national team colleague, and a couple of weeks ago spoke of his disappointment at the treatment Xhaka is receiving from the fans, claiming he wanted to “give him a hug”.
He said: I played with him for years and I know how he is as a person. He’s a very good guy and people aren’t seeing this.
“I will see him in a couple of weeks with the international team and I’ll give him a hug.
“It’s very hard for a player when your own fans are against you.”
Newcastle still have two domestic loan spots to fill
It was reported last week that Bruce is hoping to rescue Xhaka from his current Arsenal nightmare, and he now sees Schar as the perfect ally to help him do it.
Certainly a loan bid for the midfielder – who was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy – would be an ambitious one, and while Schar withdrew from the Switzerland squad through injury, he is sure to be in his ear between now and January about moving north.
Bruce is said to be wanting to sign another midfielder and striker in January, to bolster his squad, and with two domestic loan slots still available, Xhaka could fill one of those spaces.
If Newcastle manage to pull a deal off, it would be doubtful that they could afford all his wages, which would also put a question-mark over any option to buy clause being inserted into any temporary deal.
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