Super-agent Jorge Mendes ‘pushing’ for Newcastle to appoint client as next manager
Steve Bruce leaves position as Newcastle head coach
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Newcastle are being ‘pushed’ to appoint Gennaro Gattuso as their new manager by super-agent Jorge Mendes, according to reports. The Magpies are searching for a new manager after Steve Bruce’s long-expected departure finally became reality earlier this month.
A new consortium fronted by Amanda Staveley and 80 per cent backed by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia took control of Newcastle on October 7.
Speculation persisted over the future of Bruce, who was viewed by supporters as a symbol of the deeply unpopular Mike Ashley era.
The 60-year-old was handed his 1,000th game in management, the 3-2 defeat against Tottenham, but he departed by mutual consent on October 20.
Several names have been linked with the vacancy. England icons Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are believed to be candidates.
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Former Roma boss Paulo Fonseca and ex-Borussia Dortmund coach Lucien Favre are however the favourites with the majority of bookmakers.
But now, former AC Milan midfielder Gattuso has had his name thrown into the mix.
According to Italian newspaper TuttoMercatoWeb, Portuguese agent Mendes is trying to get his client the job.
Gattuso was involved in a bizarre saga with Fiorentina during the summer. The Italian was announced as the club’s new manager on 25 May, with the contract due to be effective as of 1 July. But on 17 June, both parties mutually agreed to rescind the agreement.
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The 43-year-old, whose last job was with Napoli, was then linked with the vacant Tottenham job only for a deal to fall through at the last minute.
Spurs eventually appointed Nuno Espirito Santo following a chaotic search for Jose Mourinho’s permanent successor.
The report continues that Gattuso is among the final three contenders for the Newcastle job, alongside Fonseca and Favre.
Newcastle director Staveley has promised fans that the new manager will be backed with the additions of ‘world-class’ signings.
“We are in the market to compete for world-class players,” she said after her consortium took control of the club.
“We have great ambitions — I hope it’s going to be a game changer for Newcastle United.
“But if you don’t put the infrastructure around that world-class player and you don’t have a team that can play with him, you’ll get nowhere.”
She added: “The training ground is really awful and needs a huge amount of investment. Luckily, that is one area we are not restricted by Financial Fair Play. There is no point in having fantastic players if there is nowhere for them to train.
“To get to the top of the Premier League you need a strong foundation, not just great players. They need to be robust and we need to build them.
“We also want to invest in St James’ Park — it needs a little bit more love.”
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