Newcastle manager Steve Bruce has ended Rangers’ hopes of signing winger Jacob Murphy on loan. The 25-year-old impressed during the Magpies 7-0 win over Morecambe in the Carabao Cup last night and Bruce said he has decided to keep the player:

“I won’t be letting him out on loan! Not after a performance like that. He deserves to stay with us and he has improved enormously. I have been very, very pleased even though he didn’t make the squad for the weekend. We have 20 odd players to choose from. But at this particular moment, I won’t be letting Jacob go on loan.”

Murphy spent last campaign out on loan at Sheffield Wednesday and the Owls were believed to have been interested in taking the player for another season, with Rangers, Stoke City and Nottingham Forest having also made enquiries.

Whether Gers boss Steven Gerrard will move on to other targets, it remains to be seen. The Scottish club’s current focus appears to be on signing another central midfield player.

They are reportedly closing in on a move for Preston North End’s Daniel Johnson, with some reports suggesting that deal to sign the Jamaican could be sealed by the weekend.

Rangers may then look at other areas of the pitch with the transfer deadline now less than two weeks away.