Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce admits trying to sell Jack Grealish while Aston Villa manager.

He managed him at Villa and attempted to sell him for tens of millions to aid their financial plight when he was boss.

Bruce said, “People ask me about difficult jobs – Aston Villa was arguably the most difficult. When I remember back, after we lost the play-off final the club was within hours – I mean hours – without the new owners coming in.

“I'm trying to tout Jack Grealish around everywhere to try to raise money, otherwise the club was going to collapse, so it was a really difficult, difficult time.

“But the new owners came in and made the decision they made (Bruce was sacked in October 2018) and I'm sure they think themselves justified when they got up to the Premier League."