Pochettino

Pochettino No 1 choice for Newcastle manager

Mauricio Pochettino is the preferred option as a new manager for Newcastle United. The new owners of the Magpies are willing to pay Pochettino £19m a year to convince him take the job as a new head coach.

The former Tottenham Hotspur manager is out of work since last November, and it was reported that he is keen to return to the Premier League and is interested in taking the job for Newcastle.

Steve Bruce will remain as a manager until the end of the current campaign, but it is still unknown when the season will be finished.

It is very likely that the Argentinian will take over as Newcastle new head coach once the season has concluded.

There is still no decision made from Pochettino and the Saudi-backed consortium as the Premier League is expected to determine whether to allow the £300m takeover of the club.

However, Newcastle new owners are impressed by Pochettino's work with Tottenham, as he spent five years with them and rebuild them as a team and even led them to the Champions League final in 2019.

They think that the Argentinian is the perfect manager for Newcastle. Pochettino himself admitted that he would love to return as a manager in the Premier League.

In an interview for Sky Sports he said: "To be honest, I would love to work in the Premier League. It's going to be difficult, I know, and for now it's a moment to wait and we'll see what happens.

"I'm ready and waiting for a new challenge. I have the belief and confidence that the next challenge will be fantastic."

However, if the deal with Pochettino falls through Newcastle are determined that their former manager Rafael Benitez will take the job as a new manager.

Benitez admitted that he would be happy to make a return to the Premier League.

If Pochettino agrees to take the job he would be earning around £10m a year after tax. That will put him ahead of his successor as Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho.

However, the highest paid Premier League manager will still remain Pep Guardiola with £20m and a year left of his contract.