Unai Emery has emerged as the favourite to replace Steve Bruce at Newcastle, reports claim.
The search for Bruce’s predecessor is approaching its third week with the Magpies’ new Saudi owners no closer to appointing a manager to lead them through battle to stay in the top-flight.
But, according to reports in Germany, former Arsenal boss Emery has become the new favourite to take the job on Tyneside.
The Spaniard is currently managing Villareal, having beaten Manchester United to the Europa League with the LaLiga side last season.
Emery is under contract with the Spanish side, who currently sit 13th in LaLiga, until 2023 but Newcastle, under their new mega-rich ownership, are reportedly prepared to pay a hefty fee to lure him back to the Premier League.
The 49-year-old has already held top-flight positions, including PSG and Arsenal, with his greatest success coming at Sevilla where he won three Europa Leagues.
Former Bundesliga manager Lucien Favre was also a name said to be on the table but the ex-Dortmund boss reportedly will not take the position.
Newcastle’s owners were said to be stepping up talks with managerial candidates this week, with Belgium boss Roberto Martinez and Erik ten Hag also in the frame and Chelsea legend Frank Lampard mentioned.
Time is of the essence for Newcastle after slipping further into a relegation slump following the team’s winless start extended to 10 matches with a 3-0 defeat to Chelsea at the weekend.
And, the Magpies are reportedly plotting to unveil their new boss during the international break next week.
Newcastle are prepared to equip their new manager with a huge war chest in the January transfer window but another 10 matches remain before they can seize the chance to spend and the team desperately need a permanent manager to steer them in the meantime.
Interim manager Graeme Jones urged the owners to appoint a new permanent manager as he said: ‘We are in a relegation battle. There’s no question about that.
‘We need to face it like men, stick together and believe we’ll come through. The truth is, it maybe needs a fresh face in order to get that.’