According to Italian outlet Calcio Mercato, the soon-to-be new owners of Newcastle United have identified Luciano Spalletti as a potential candidate to replace Steve Bruce should a takeover go through.
The out-of-work Italian is one of several names who’ve now been linked since news of a Saudi-backed buyout emerged, with Rafa Benitez, Mauricio Pochettino, Max Allegri and Lucian Favre all rumoured to be on the Saudis radar.
As for Spalletti, he’s managed at Inter Milan most recently along with Roma and Zenit St Petersburg – spells which have seen him pick up two Coppa Italias, two Russian Cups and one Russian Premier League title.
The same piece – which must be taken with a pinch of salt – also claims he wants to bring Belgian star Radja Nainggolan with him to Tyneside should rumours of our interest be true.
Spalletti brought the 31-year-old to Inter Milan in 2018 for a fee in the region of £21, but he has since fallen out of favour under new boss Antonio Conte, seeing him loaned out to Serie A side Cagliari as a result.
