wicked.football

Newcastle look set to go in the direction of a sporting director under the club’s new ownership and, one reputable source has revealed one candidate who is definitely on the Magpies’ short-list.

The Tyneside club were last week taken over by the Saudi Arabia public investment fund for £305m. The Saudi-backed consortium have taken an 80 per cent stake, while PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media own the rest.

Newcastle have now become the richest club in world football. And already they have been linked with host of new players, managers and sporting directors.

The new owners are said to be looking to replace boss Steve Bruce, who will take charge of his 1000th game if he is still in charge against Spurs this weekend.

Assistant manager Graeme Jones is being tipped to step in. But while the club are looking for a new coach, they also want a new sporting director.

And, according to The Chronicle, one experienced man looked to be in the driving seat.

Head of sports and development at Russian club FC Lokomotiv Moscow Ralf Rangnick has emerged as a possible target.

But now, Sky Sports says the club have targeted former Lille and Monaco chief Luis Campos.

Campos, who is a close friend of Jose Mourinho’s, was a target for Man Utd before they decided to appoint from within with John Murtough.

Campos, 57, is a former manager, turned scout and now football director. His record is superb with the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Fabinho and Bernardo Silva among the players he has developed.

Robinho, Eto’o or Johnson? Which example will Newcastle follow with their newly acquired wealth?

The ‘wizard of capital gains’

His work at last season’s Ligue 1 title winners Lille has also not gone unnoticed. He has helped the likes of Renato Sanches, Jonathan Ikone, and Zeki Celik hit new heights.

And Sky reporter Gary Cotterill says Campos is a target for Newcastle, who want to appoint a sporting director.

“There’s a few on the list and one of those is Luis Campos. He’s a very successful sports director and is known as the ‘wizard of capital gains’ because he has this habit of finding players for nothing and turning them into super stars,” said Cotterill.

“He has made over £500m in player deals over the last seven or eight years. The players he has found include Kylian Mbappe, Bernardo Silva, Fabino, Thomas Lemar, Anthony Martial and Nicolas Pepe.

“But as well as that Campos has led two French sides to the only league titles in France, outside of PSG in the last nine years. Firstly he led Monaco to the title and then last season with Lille. He was the sporting director there and found all those players.

“My understanding is that he is being considered at Newcastle. And he is keen to talk to Newcastle, but it’s at a very early stage.”

READ MORE: Newcastle hold key to unlock transfer as proposed Chelsea move gets confirmation

The post Newcastle owners have ally of Jose Mourinho on short-list for transformative role, insist Sky Sports appeared first on TEAMtalk.