New Newcastle owners want Mauricio Pochettino and Edinson Cavani

April 22, 2020

The prospective new owners of Newcastle United will be targeting a big name manager and a marquee signing if/when they take over the club.

That’s according to ESPN, who report that Saudi-backed consortium PCP Capital Partners are interested in replacing current manager Steve Bruce with either former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino or ex-Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri.

While Paris Saint-Germain striker Edinson Cavani is reportedly one of their big name transfer targets.

Reports earlier in the week suggested Bruce will be given time to prove his worth, but ESPN claim the potential new owners want a bigger name in charge and as well as Pochettino and Allegri, former Toon boss Rafael Benítez and Borussia Dortmund’s Lucien Favre are also on the list of potential candidates.

But Pochettino is understood to be their prime target, and there are hopes that the Argentine tactician could be lured to St James’ Park if they are able to recruit one or two top level players.

Cavani is out of contract this summer, while contact has reportedly also been made with the agents of Napoli forward Dries Mertens and Chelsea winger Willian.

Paperwork is currently being finalised after an agreement was found on Monday between Mike Ashley and PCP Capital Partners, and an official announcement regarding the sale of the club is expected soon.

Both parties have exchanged contracts and a deposit has been paid, but the new owners will then need to pass the Premier League’s Owners and Directors test before the takeover can be completed.

Assuming that goes through, the £300m to buy the club will then be transferred.

Yasir Al Rumayyan, a close friend of Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, will be the Magpies’ new chairman.