Three overseas managers now ‘keen’ on NUFC job, with domestic trio also ‘options’ – Report

The Chronicle have revealed THREE overseas managers believed to be keen on taking the Newcastle United job following last week’s Saudi takeover.

Those are Ajax’s Erik ten Hag, former Borussia Dortmund boss Lucien Favre and Roberto Martinez – who currently manages the Belgian national side.

Interestingly, Mark Douglas also states that Brendan Rodgers, Eddie Howe and ex-NUFC boss Rafa Benitez are domestic options for the new owners, stating the latter could yet be targeted in an ‘all in’ approach to prise him away from Everton.

Favre is currently the bookies favourite (11/4) and Erik ten Hag is an intriguing option after the great work he’s done at Ajax – playing attacking football and taking them to the Champions League semi-final in 2019 – however I would not be surprised in the slightest if we ended up with Martinez.

His time with Belgium could be nearing an end, he appears eager to return to the Premier League, he has vast experience in England after spells with Everton, Wigan and Swansea, he knows Graeme Jones well – his assistant at all of the previously mentioned clubs – and he’s been used to managing big egos during his time with Belgium.

You may wonder why the latter point is significant, however it will be key that our new manager is able to cope with a mixture of characters in the dressing room, especially when we seem likely to make a marquee signing or two when the new year.

As for Rafa, it would be quite something to see him back at St James’ Park, but with him often honouring his contract and making an impressive start at Everton by his family home, I struggle to see us pulling that one off.

Eddie Howe? For me, that ship has sailed now we have new owners. Brendan Rodgers would be brilliant, but could we tempt him to leave Leicester – a club that’s recently broke into the ‘big six’ – for a side currently sat in 19th?