According to L’Equipe and Get French Football News, Newcastle United have failed with an approach for Marseille boss Andre Villas-Boas.
It’s claimed that Villas-Boas still hasn’t decided his future just yet. His position has been under question since Marseille fired sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta last week, given how close the pair were.
President Jacques-Henri Eyraud allegedly wants Villas-Boas to resign, but he won’t. Villas-Boas wanted to stay before Zubizarreta’s exit, but is still considering his options.
Still, the report notes that Villas-Boas has turned down a lucrative offer from Newcastle United, which may again point to him eventually staying put with Marseille.
He can manage in the Champions League with Marseille next season, even if their budget will be small. Newcastle are the opposite; no European football, but potentially huge funds if their takeover goes through.
Villas-Boas will have been approached in conjunction with that takeover. Without it, Steve Bruce is likely to keep his job, and they likely couldn’t tempt the Portuguese boss.
Formerly of Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, Villas-Boas is seemingly wanting to take his time and consider his options, but Newcastle look to have come up short.
Given claims that Mauricio Pochettino is the top choice of Newcastle’s prospective owners, it’s a surprise to hear that an approach has been made to Villas-Boas already.
Contact may have been made and a rough idea put forward, but with the takeover not even done yet, we’re doubting that real talks or an offer have taken place.
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