EXCLUSIVE: Newcastle working on ambitious double deal for Chelsea experts Bath and Fraser

Newcastle United are working on the appointment of world-renowned academy experts Neil Bath and Jim Fraser following their departures from Chelsea.

The club holds long-term interest in the pair - both were targeted in the early months of 2022 following the arrival of Saudi owners in October 2021 - and have identified Bath and Fraser as the perfect candidates to help transform an Academy in need of their experience and expertise following years of neglect during the Mike Ashley era.

Attempts were made to bring them to Tyneside last summer, where we saw our Academy plans ramp up with a host of exciting youth signings, but a deal was not possible at the time. However, 12 months later, Newcastle have been given fresh hope after their shock departures from Chelsea this week and are eager to hold talks soon ahead of inevitable interest from Premier League rivals.

Bath has been at Chelsea for 28 years, where he's taken on a transformative role in overseeing and producing their best-in-class academy at Cobham, not only bringing through a golden generation of young players but generating huge revenue for the club after overseeing one of the best youth football development systems.

Their former director of football operations and development oversaw the rise of Academy-grown players like Reece James, Mason Mount, Conor Gallagher and Andreas Christensen, offering the sort of expertise Newcastle are craving to offer a pathway from youth level to Eddie Howe's first-team.

Bath's deputy, Jim Fraser - head of youth and development at Chelsea - has also departed after two decades at Stamford Bridge and will be targeted by Toon chiefs. 

Newcastle hope to speak with both over the opportunity to oversee the transformation of Newcastle's Academy, where we've already seen a host of U16 and U18 additions this summer, along with the appointment of new U16 coach Jack Brazil, who left his role at PSV last month.

Bath and Fraser are expected to take stock and consider their next move after more than 20 years of work at Chelsea, but Newcastle are eager to hold talks and pounce on the opportunity to secure two long-term targets who would represent another top-class move following the appointment of sporting director Paul Mitchell.