Aston Villa have seen their first bid of £9million rejected - but the seem alone in the hunt - as Newcastle and Sunderland pull out.
Mike Ashley has told Alan Pardew he will not send £10m on a striker - PERIOD!
Dave Whelan: "It's £10m or there is no deal.
"They offered us £9m and we refused it; firstly because we would like to keep Charles, and secondly because if he is to go, then we have to get the right price for him.
"Charles has played fantastically well in the last year and, with his pace and penetration, there's no doubt in my mind that he is the finest left-winger in the Premier League.
"We owe him a lot, not least for his goal against West Ham that helped us stay up.
"If the right offer comes in, we would consider it, if it was in his best interests - but it has to be the right offer."
The Mackems have decided not to pursue the former Newcastle winger after learning that Wigan Athletic want £10m for him on top of his £60,000-a-week demands.
Now Bruce, who was interested in signing Stuart Downing before the intervention of Liverpool, is exploring alternatives in his attempts to fill his left flank spot.
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