Fabian Schar drops Newcastle United contract hint amid Steve Bruce scouting claim

Here is your 4am Newcastle United transfer digest.

Fabian Schar has indicated he would be keen to sign a new contract at Newcastle United. The centre-back's deal is due to expire in the summer, but head coach Eddie Howe has confirmed the club are keen to agree a new contract with the 30-year-old.

Schar told Swiss outlet SRF via SportWitness: “Everyone at the club knows how comfortable I feel in this team and under this coach.

“I can well imagine staying at Newcastle beyond the summer. It wasn’t always like that; things weren’t always very happy for me under the old owner. The next few weeks will show how things will go for me. Newcastle are certainly my priority.”

Former Newcastle boss Steve Bruce has claimed he scouted West Brom striker Karlan Grant during his time in charge at St James' Park. Bruce has endured a difficult start to life at the Hawthorns, but the striker scored twice during the Baggies' victory at Hull City in their last outing.

Confirming he was a long-time admirer of Grant, Bruce told Birmingham Live: “At Huddersfield, I sent Stephen Clemence and Steve Agnew to watch him when we were first in at Newcastle. They came back with a glowing report.

“I sent them to watch him and he was a centre forward. When you look at the statistics he’s got and he’s got one in three in the Championship. We needed to do something.