According to Le10 Sport, Mauricio Pochettino is closing in on a deal to become the new Newcastle United boss, with talks allegedly ‘advanced’.
Newcastle are set to be taken over, with the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund, Amanda Staveley and the Reuben brothers joining forces in a £300million deal.
It’s claimed that Pochettino is the first choice for the managerial job despite Steve Bruce still being in the job, and he is now close to an agreement with the Magpies.
Negotiations are thought to be at an advanced stage for Pochettino to make his return to management, having been let go by Tottenham Hotspur in November 2019.
The Verdict
There’s no real doubting that Pochettino would be an exceptional appointment for Newcastle. In his most recent job, he took Spurs from top four hopefuls to title challengers and Champions League finalists.
He fared well with Espanyol and Southampton too, showing that he could build up mid-table sides with a progressive brand of football and the incorporation of young players.
However, until the Newcastle takeover is actually completed, it’s hard to imagine that Pochettino is actually close to taking the job; contact may well have been made between the new owners and Pochettino, but with the takeover delayed, an imminent agreement seems unlikely.
It would be harsh to have such a deal set up whilst Bruce is in charge, so until the Newcastle takeover is actually done and dusted, we’re doubting that such a move is imminent.
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