Joe Thomlinson has been speaking on the Football Daily YouTube channel about how he wouldn’t be surprised to see Newcastle United appoint a big name as director of football.
The Magpies are almost all sorted and ready to embark on their new era as they have new owners, a new head coach and new backroom staff – and if reports are to be believed, Michael Emenalo is the frontrunner to become the club’s new director of football that would really kickstart a new dawn on Tyneside.
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Emenalo has reportedly been in Saudi Arabia to hold talks about taking up a role at Newcastle and journalist Rudy Galetti has claimed that the former Chelsea technical director could be set to start his new role at the club by the time Newcastle welcome Brentford to St. James’ Park on Saturday afternoon.
The former Chelsea man helped to oversee signings such as Cesc Fabregas, Diego Costa and N’Golo Kante, who have all helped the Blues to success in the Premier League. While Newcastle will not expect that level of player to be arriving immediately in January given their league position, he would certainly offer a wide range of contacts in the game.
Thomlinson believes that Newcastle will look to appoint a big-name director of football.
“I’ve seen Michael Edwards linked, obviously he’s leaving his post as Liverpool sporting director in June. He’s really, really good friends with Eddie Howe personally, apparently, they’re very good pals.
“So I wouldn’t be surprised to see a pretty big-name sporting director take that role, whether it’s Emenalo, I think Edwards is unlikely.”
TIF Thoughts on Newcastle’s director of football search…
Thomlinson highlighted someone who is set to be out of work next summer that could come into the new owners’ thoughts when looking for a director of football in Michael Edwards. But while that would appear a smart and intelligent move from PIF, that link has already been quashed, with Paul Joyce claiming Edwards has no interest in moving to Tyneside.
With Edwards seemingly out of the question, Emenalo is certainly not a bad appointment for Newcastle’s owners to make given his reputation and how long he’s been in the game, as that would certainly aid them when it comes to transfer dealings, especially if Premier League clubs are to keep their word on an ‘anyone but Newcastle‘ stance when selling their players.
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