Newcastle will target a big-name manager to lead their new era with the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Massimiliano Allegri and former boss Rafael Benitez being linked with the role ahead of the club’s impending takeover.
The final stages of a proposed takeover at St James’ Park are currently being finalised as Mike Ashley prepares to sell the club to PCP Capital Partners, a Saudi-backed consortium that is promising to usher in a new dawn of investment in the North East.
The new owners have ambitions of creating a Newcastle side that is capable of challenging for silverware in the coming seasons and want a high-profile manager to lead their new-look side, despite initial reports that Steve Bruce will be given time to prove himself.
According to ESPN, former Tottenham manager Pochettino heads a four-man shortlist to take charge, alongside ex-Juventus boss Allegri, Borussia Dortmund head coach Lucien Favre, and Dalian Yifang’s Rafael Benitez, who only left the club last summer.
The consortium believe they can put together a package to attract any of the aforementioned managers – similar to how Everton attracted Carlo Ancelotti – and will further showcase their ambition with the recruitment of big-name players in the summer’s transfer market.
According to the report, Newcastle will target a host of leading players who are out-of-contract this summer, with the likes of Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani and Napoli’s Dries Mertens amongst the names being considered at present.
Yasir Al Rumayyan will be installed as chairman at St James’ Park once a takeover is completed, in what could prove to be a seismic moment in the history of the success-starved Magpies.
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