Newcastle Roundup: Mauricio Pochettino, Steve Bruce's Future, Sporting Director Gossip & More

Things are starting to move very quickly in the North East.


The £300m purchase of the club by Amanda Staveley's PCP partnership, financed by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF), looks to be drawing closer after the fund's chief operating officer Bander Bin Mogren was named in paperwork as a director of a shell company looking to complete the deal.


With much suggestion in the press that the takeover is on the brink of completion, the footballing rumour mill has unsurprisingly been full of conjecture as to what the newly wealthy Magpies might look like.


Here's your guide to the latest paper talk, and what it might mean for Newcastle...



Steve Bruce's Future


Southampton FC v Newcastle United - Premier League

One of the big questions surrounding Newcastle's takeover concerns whether they'll look for a replacement for Bruce in the dugout at St James' Park, and according to the Daily Star the boyhood Magpies fan is none the wiser about his fate.


The Star report that neither current chairman Mike Ashley nor any representatives from the PCP Partnership or the PIF have communicated with the former Manchester United centre back since Britain went into lockdown, with managing director Lee Charnley Bruce's only line to the Newcastle hierarchy.


Though Bruce had 'a list of transfer targets already drawn up' and was planning for next season with Newcastle 13th in the Premier League table, this lack of contact with Ashley or his potential new bosses corroborates the likely theory that Newcastle will be looking for a new manager to head the Saudi Arabian revolution.



Mauricio Pochettino at the Wheel


Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata v Central Cordoba - Superliga 2019/20

With a number of options touted to replace Bruce at the helm of the Magpies if the new owners opt for a change of direction, former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has sensationally been chosen as PIF's number one priority for the role, according to Sky Sports.


With Pochettino, who took Spurs to last season's Champions League final, known to fancy the job and Newcastle happy to produce the reported £19m sum for his services, Bruce would stay until the end of the season until the Argentine took over.


Should pursuing Pochettino prove too complicated, the Magpies would look at reappointing Rafael Benitez, who's currently managing in China with Dalian Yifang.



Jorge Jesus Another Target for the Hot Seat


Flamengo v Barcelona - Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores 2020

Separate links have surfaced suggesting Pochettino and Benitez are not the only candidates to take the reins at Newcastle, with Goal reporting Flamengo coach Jorge Jesus is being considered as another replacement for Bruce.


Jesus, who won the 2019 Copa Libertadores with Flamengo and took Benfica to two consecutive Europa League finals, has reportedly wowed the powers that be at St James' Park with his extensive CV managing in Europe, as well as his achievements in Brazil.


With Jesus and a cash-strapped Flamengo struggling to negotiate a 50% increase to his contract which would extend it until 2021, Newcastle may take advantage of the financial uncertainty caused by the global spread of COVID-19 to swoop in.



A Familiar Face Set to Join as Sporting Director


Valencia CF v CD Leganes - La Liga

It seems that the structure of operations at Newcastle is also going to be shaken up as a result of the takeover, with El Desmarque reporting former Valencia technical secretary Pablo Longoria, who was previously employed as a scout by Newcastle, is set to join as sporting director.


Before being sacked from his role after falling out with owner Peter Lim following the controversial departure of manager Marcelino, Longoria was part of a Valencia set-up which successfully delivered the 2019 Copa del Rey, with Geoffrey Kondogbia and Goncalo Guedes among the signings made during his tenure.


He turned down a move to Milan after leaving Valencia, as he wanted some more time off before taking a new role, but Longoria's experience has made him a key target for Newcastle.




Source : 90min