Newcastle head coach Steve Bruce is refusing to be distracted by fresh takeover talks as he prepares for Sunday’s Premier League trip to Leicester.
Reports claiming that former Manchester United and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon is attempting to buy the club from current owner Mike Ashley for a second time, once again with financial backing from the United States, surfaced late on Thursday night.
Asked about the speculation at his pre-match press conference on Friday morning, Bruce said: “Until (head of media) Lee (Marshall) briefed me this morning, it was news to me and it’s not something I can comment on.
“Lee informed me there was something breaking last night, but I haven’t heard anything to the contrary.
“I can’t influence anything like that. The only thing I can influence is how we play on a Saturday – or Sunday in this particular week. That’s the only thing I can really focus on.”
The 46-page brochure, which suggests he and his GACP Sports partners would pay £125million up front as part of a £300million deal, is designed to attract further investment, an issue which has scuppered several prospective buyers in the past.
He said: “You have to get used to it. It’s happened to me before – it’s happened to me three or four times. It’s something you get used to.
“This club in particular, there’s always speculation surrounding it and it’s never happened, so watch this space.”
Newcastle return to action on Sunday desperate to bounce back from a dreadful performance in last Saturday’s 0-0 home draw with Brighton.
Bruce said: “Shelvey has got a problem with a hamstring, he’s out. He’s got a Grade Two hamstring, so he’ll be a couple of weeks.
“Longstaff is okay. He’s trained all week, he’ll be okay.”
