Birmingham City defender Kristian Pedersen has revealed how Steve Bruce really wanted to sign him last summer, as the former Newcastle United boss tried - ultimately in vain - to turn around the club's fortunes.
Before the Suadi Public Investment Fund's takeover, Bruce was restricted in terms of who he could sign for Newcastle, with the manager looking to add to a squad that had just finished a respectable 12th in last season's Premier League.
With this in mind, the 60-year-old was keen to raid one of his former clubs in Championship ever-presents Birmingham City.
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The Blues, who have also faced their fair share of financial strife over the past decade, were seemingly unwilling to do business with Newcastle, with Bruce especially keen on signing to sign Left-back Kristian Pedersen.
A fully-fledged Danish international, Pedersen recently described how close he came to moving to Tyneside, as well as how much The Magpies wanted him.
"It was close with Newcastle in the summer. The club got a call from Steve Bruce, who is now fired," Pedersen told bold.dk.
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"He said he really wanted me, but it didn't work out in the end, because there were some things that had to succeed before the ends could meet."
The 27-year-old now admits that he doesn't know if he'll get another opportunity to move to the Premier League, having previously played in the German second flight with Union Berlin.
"Of course, it's too bad it didn't happen, but there's nothing to be done about it," he adds.
"It would have been a really good opportunity for me, but yes, it did not happen, and now they have got new owners and have got other muscles to play with, so I do not know exactly how it is anymore.
"Watford have been there before, but it was a long time ago, but otherwise there is always little interest here and there, and it is not something that has become concrete."
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Given Newcastle's new financial might, it's highly unlikely that they will return for Pedersen in the future, who is into the final year of his BCFC deal.
Having had the Full-back at St Andrews since 2018, manager Lee Bowyer will certainly be hoping to tie him down to a long-term deal, but Premier League ambition may ultimately get the better of Pedersen.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Steve Bruce, Premier League, Birmingham City, Newcastle United, championship