Villarreal manager Unai Emery insisted that he knows ‘nothing’ about speculation linking him to a return to the Premier League with Newcastle United, while speaking to Marca.
Each and every one of Newcastle’s managerial candidates would be forgiven for suffering a nasty case of cold feet in the aftermath of Saturday’s 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea.
It wasn’t the scoreline that would have sent shivers down Tyneside spines on Halloween weekend – plenty of clubs will be swept aside by Thomas Tuchel’s European champions this season – but the nature of the performance was so bad, so downright dour, that even the poor kids of Elm Street would rather rest their weary eyes than keep watching.
20 per cent possession and just one shot on target; a penny for Amanda Staveley’s thoughts.
The likes of Erik Ten Hag, Graham Potter, Brendan Rodgers and the seemingly-Tottenham bound Antonio Conte have already distanced themselves from the St James’ post.
And Emery was careful not to fan the flames of speculation either when given a grilling ahead of Tuesday’s Champions League group-stage clash with BSC Young Boys.
Could Unai Emery replace Steve Bruce at Newcastle United?
“The truth is that I do not know anything,” said a man whose rather topsy-turvy CV includes Europa League triumphs at underdogs Villarreal and Sevilla, flanked by underwhelming stints at more expectant clubs like Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain.
Sport1 reported earlier on Monday that Emery was now the leading candidate to take over at St James’ Park.
The publication claimed that Newcastle’s billionaire Saudi Arabian owners are willing to pay a ‘huge fee’ in order to buy the 49-year-old Basque out of a contract that still has another season-and-a-half left to run.
But has Emery just removed his name from the frame, preferring instead to stay at a Villarreal side with a seat at the loftiest of tables?
Or is he merely looking to keep the speculation under wraps? All will be revealed soon enough, preferably before the end of the November international break.
With Newcastle winless, gutless and feckless after ten games – and already six points from safety – time really is off the essence right now.
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