Newcastle narrow new manager shortlist to three ahead of final interviews
Exclusive - Newcastle United's search for a new manager to replace Steve Bruce has narrowed down to three candidates.
90min understands that final interviews are taking place this week, and the names in the frame are Eddie Howe, Paulo Fonseca and Lucien Favre - all of whom held initial talks with the club last week.
Newcastle plan on having a new manager in place by this weekend, with Bruce leaving St James' Park 'by mutual consent' on Wednesday ahead of his side's trip to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
The Magpies had initially intended on sacking him last week before appointing current number two Graeme Jones on an interim basis, but they have instead opted to get a new permanent boss in now.
The club's new owners are now all in the North East after chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan flew in to attend Sunday's Premier League defeat against Tottenham - a plan 90min revealed on Thursday.
Now alongside Amanda Staveley, her husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi - who co-owns PCP Capital Partners - and other board member Jamie Reuben, Al-Rumayyan will help to finalise the appointment of the club's new manager.
The new owners have been taking advice from numerous people in and around football in England, as they look to try and get the appointment right.
90min can reveal that Howe has emerged as a target after glowing references from former West Ham and Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp, and his son Jamie. The 43-year-old has been out of work since leaving Bournemouth in 2020, following their relegation from the Premier League.
Howe was close to landing the Celtic job in the summer, only to have a change of heart at the last minute, and is the only domestic candidate in the running - with Newcastle also talking to Fonseca and Favre, two highly experienced foreign coaches.
Fonseca has a growing reputation across the continent, and was Tottenham's initial first choice to succeed Jose Mourinho as their head coach. But despite agreeing terms with the club, a move broke down over footballing philosophy.
The 48-year-old Portuguese - who does speak English - was last in charge of Roma, who he left in May, and has previously enjoyed spells in charge of Porto, Braga and Shakhtar Donetsk.
He also held talks with Everton in the summer, and rejected the overtures of Crystal Palace - but 90min understands he is hugely keen to take on the task at Newcastle.
Likewise, former Borussia Dortmund manager Lucien Favre likes the idea of working in the Premier League.
The 63-year-old Swiss departed Borussia Dortmund in 2020 and has been linked to a host of clubs since. He is keen to get back into work, having spent most of his time in Germany coaching the likes of Hertha BSC and Borussia Monchengladach, and is by far the most experienced of the three candidates.
Others remain keen on taking the position, but Howe, Favre and Fonseca will all undertake final interviews before one of them takes charge.