90min

Newcastle United Searching for Director of Football as Takeover Nears Completion

By Grey Whitebloom

FBL-ENG-PR-NEWCASTLE-MAN UTD
FBL-ENG-PR-NEWCASTLE-MAN UTD / PAUL ELLIS/Getty Images
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As the takeover of Newcastle United crawls closer to its conclusion the club's prospective new owners have begun 'sounding out' candidates for a new role as director of football.

Newcastle are the subject of a £300m bid from a consortium led by Amanda Staveley and controversially backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Amanda Staveley's (L) financial advisory firm helped broker the sale of Manchester City in 2009
Amanda Staveley's (L) financial advisory firm helped broker the sale of Manchester City in 2009 / Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

The potential owners are expected to offer a sizeable injection of funds with the club linked to an ever-expanding plethora of managers and players in the upcoming transfer window.

Now the prospective owners are thought to be searching for a director of football to broker these player acquisitions according to the Shields Gazette. The same report revealed the sale of the club is nearing a decision, with it set to be announced soon - although the timescale for this is incredibly vague.

Lille's sporting director Luís Campos is believed to have already turned down a huge offer from Newcastle. In the last two years alone, Lille have garnered fees close to £200m from player sales with Campos at the helm.

Luís Campos was a scout at Real Madrid while José Mourinho was manager between 2012 and 2013
Luís Campos was a scout at Real Madrid while José Mourinho was manager between 2012 and 2013 / REMY GABALDA/Getty Images

Paul Mitchell, the technical director of Red Bull's football clubs in Brazil and the US, has also reportedly attracted interest from the soon to be monied Magpies. Mitchell would be making a return to the Premier League after acting as chief scout of Southampton, then Tottenham.

Searching for a director of football is considered to be evidence against Mauricio Pochettino taking over at St. James' Park given his desire to have total control over footballing matters. The former Spurs boss was one of four ambitious candidates Newcastle were thought to have lined up following the takeover.

However, for the moment, Steve Bruce remains Newcastle's manager. A position he backs himself to maintain after speaking out for the first time about the potential takeover.