Newcastle United boss Steve Bruce is eager to close permanent deals for Nabil Bentaleb and Danny Rose.

The Evening Chronicle says Bruce is keen to turn Bentaleb's move to St James' Park into a permanent one as soon as the season is completed.

The Magpies are yet to see the best of the former Tottenham Hotspur star since his loan move from Schalke 04 in January, but Bruce has seen enough to convince him he is worth a full-time slot in his squad for the next two or three seasons.

Schalke 04 have agreed a price of £8.5million to end his spell in the Bundesliga.

The Toon boss is also keen on turning Rose's loan from Tottenham Hotspur into a full-time arrangement but this will be a deal that boils down to wages and unlike Bentaleb there is no agreed price between Daniel Levy and Mike Ashley on the player.