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Domino effect:
One in black and white = one out?
Despite recent denials from the club regarding the future of Jermaine Jenas being away from Tyneside, the latest instalment of the annual Patrick Viera leaving/staying saga again raises fears that JJ could be the next player on his way.
Juventus are publicly confident that they have persuaded Vieira to wear a black and white shirt next season - although the Gunners are rather more downbeat about the whole thing.
The departure of the midfielder from Highbury will inevitably prompt renewed speculation as to who would arrive in his place - Arsene Wenger being a known admirer of Jenas.
With the Bramble injury now adding extra strain to our transfer budget, coupled with our failure so far to trim down the excess from the midfield area, it remains to be seen whether we would be in a position to reject any overtures from Arsenal.
Certainly were Vieira to go, it would be less than clear precisely which dressing room Jenas would occupy at Highbury on the opening day of the season.
Brucie bonus:
Goalscorer swap talk resurfaces
Our need to sign additional defensive reinforcements has prompted fresh speculation that Graeme Souness is looking towards Birmingham City's unsettled central defender Matthew Upson.
The 26 year-old England international turned us down in favour of a move to St.Andrews from Arsenal in January 2003, but rejected a revised contract offer from the Blues last month.
Several papers have gone with a swap deal claim, midfielder Nicky Butt being the other party - having been linked with a move to Birmingham in recent weeks.
Upson and Butt were both on target in a 2-2 draw when Newcastle met Birmingham in the West Midlands last October.
Whether Birmingham are prepared to lost Upson is a moot point though - he was in their starting lineup on Wednesday night as Bruce's side began their pre-season games with a 2-0 win against a Norwegian team.
Brucie bonus:
Unwanted link
The spectre of Marc Viduka also raised its ugly head again via the Times on Thursday. Gulp.
Let's hope engineering works derail that particular gravy train between Teeside and Tyneside and a player who has managed 12 minutes of club football this year cons someone else into signing him on.
While being injured an unable to assist Boro in the second half of their season, Viduka was fit enough to turn out three weeks later for Australia last month in their Confederations Cup games.
At the Confederations Cup Viduka made his intentions clear when he told journalists
"Making the World Cup with Australia is probably my biggest goal for now.
"I think a lot of us are realising that this is our last shot at it.
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