Steve Bruce could turn to defender Habib Beye

Jan 23 2010 by Luke Edwards, The Journal

STEVE Bruce has confirmed his interest in Aston Villa’s former Newcastle United star Habib Beye after the collapse of a proposed move for Hamburg’s Guy Demel.

Demel declared last night he wants to stay with the Bundesliga club until the end of the season and Sunderland may resume their chase then, but they appear to hope to have recruited Beye by then.

Bruce, who will wait until the summer until he tries to sign Middlesbrough’s Adam Johnson, has been a long-term admirer of the 32-year-old defender who only moved to Villa in the summer following Newcastle’s relegation to the Championship. The Black Cats boss is keeping his fingers crossed Martin O’Neill will agree to sell despite Villa last night deciding to offload midfielder Craig Gardner, who has previously filled in at right-back, to rivals Birmingham City.

Sunderland entered a bid for Beye this week but have not received an answer yet. Bruce will chase things up after today’s FA Cup fourth round tie at Portsmouth as he claimed he will only be looking to sign defenders this month, following the arrival of Matthew Kilgallon from Sheffield United.

“It’s defensively that we are looking to do things this month,” said Bruce, who feels time is running out in his pursuit of Wigan’s Maynor Figueroa in terms of this transfer window. “I went to bat with only two full-backs, (George) McCartney who is sick this weekend and (Phil) Bardsley. It gives me problems whenever there is a slight injury.

“We are still looking to sign players at the back, it’s the area we are short. We are down to the bare bones in that respect so that’s where we are trying to re-enforce and strengthen. Habib Beye is one I like and admire, but that’s as a far as it has gone at the moment. We are interested in him and we have had a look at him, but I’m not sure whether we are going to be able to do anything.”

Bruce had initially felt he would be able to lure Demel to the North East, but the negotiations have been hampered by his involvement in the African Nations Cup with the Ivory Coast and Hamburg’s inability to find a suitable replacement at short notice.

Demel said: “I could have made almost double in Sunderland what I earn with Hamburg, but I will stay with Hamburg. Our club boss (chairman) Bernd Hoffmann said to me that he would be pleased if I would continue to play for Hamburg when I come back.”