Newcastle boss Steve Bruce is preparing to go to war with Toon chiefs over the potential signing of Aston Villa defender Ahmed Elmohamady, according to The Sun.
The Egypt right-back followed Bruce to Aston Villa in 2017, after the 53-year-old left Hull City the summer before and later joined the Birmingham-based outfit, where they would go on to reach the Championship Play-Off Final together in 2018.
Bruce is now keen to secure a third reunion with the 31-year-old, having also worked together at Sunderland, but faces opposition from the United board as the club would prefer to continue signing younger prospects.
The club’s preference to acquire young options over proven talents is thought to have left Bruce uneasy, as he would like to add more experienced options including Everton outcast James McCarthy to sit alongside the likes of Joelinton and Allan Saint-Maximin.
BBC Sport journalist Saj Chowdhury believes there is no move on the cards for Elmohamady, however, leaving the £2.7million-rated full-back facing the prospect of starting the Premier League season as Dean Smith’s second-choice right-back.
January signing Frederic Guilbert is expected to be the Villains’ first-choice wing-back in the curtain-raiser against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday, with the 24-year-old ahead of Elmohamady in Smith’s pecking order despite only joining the Birmingham-based outfit for pre-season having spent the latter half of last season on loan with former side Caen.
Newcastle fans reacting to Bruce’s alleged interest in Elmohamady were left vastly unimpressed, with many suggesting he is already preparing for life in the Championship.
Here’s how these fans reacted…
Worst thing is Aston Villa would let him go as they have spend 140m on revamping their squad.
No better then our current RBs and RMs……
— BradleyIainHall (@BradleyIainHal1) August 4, 2019
Well, I don’t mind if Elmohamady comes for free with cheap wages. He can be backup like Darryl Murphy
— elevenplusone (@twelvemyname) August 4, 2019
Ashley won’t sign him no sell on value
— Barry Thomas (@bazza080808) August 4, 2019
If we sign Elmohadhisday I’m done, I’m not even gonna bother following football anymore, I’ll be just done ????
— Dreamifestation (#boycottarsenal) (@Dreamifestation) August 4, 2019
Manquillo and Yedlin are better than him ????♂️
— NuFc For LIFE (@ToonBarmy59) August 4, 2019
Dont thing ashley will let him of he wouldn’t sign rondon hes not going to sign him he’s like 32
— Jack Hall (@JackHallnufc5) August 4, 2019
Yeah because all of Rafa’s signing weren’t below average…Lazzar, Murphy, Sels, Hanley etc.
— Matthew Watson (@Mattack2392) August 4, 2019
Steve Bruce reminding everyone who exactly he is. A Championship manager.
— Aato (@elAato) August 4, 2019
Bruce is a genius. We haven’t even started this season, and he’s already deep into planning our Championship promotion push next season.
— Mark (@NerdNovelist) August 4, 2019