The three sporting directors who have been interviewed multiple times by Newcastle

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Newcastle United have been forced into a change.

For all of the millions owners PIF have on offer, clubs lose key individuals all the time.

Even in Manchester United’s pomp, they had to sell Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid in 2009. Liverpool, meanwhile, have lost the likes of Xabi Alonso, Fernando Torres, Luis Suarez and Philippe Coutinho over the years.

People moving on is simply the nature of the game.

Indeed, Newcastle experienced that earlier this season. While sporting director Dan Ashworth clearly doesn’t have the same kind of bond with the fans as a Ronaldo or Suarez would have, placing him on gardening leave amid interest from Old Trafford was no doubt disappointing.

As a result, the club have had to look for a new person in that role, albeit current head of recruitment Steve Nickson could be overseeing transfer matters this summer.

Now, some insight into what the latest is on the sporting director front has emerged.

The three sporting directors Newcastle have interviewed multiple times

According to The Daily Mail, three names have been interviewed a number of times.

Former Tottenham and Monaco sporting director Paul Mitchell is among them, along with ex-Roma director of football, Tiago Pinto.

Benfica’s Rui Pedro Braz is also believed to be in the running and those interviewed are understood to have met with representatives from PIF and PCP Capital Partners.

They are yet to meet chairman Yasir Al-Rumayyan but that is thought to be the next stage.

Once a decision is made on a new appointment, talks with Man United over the compensation package for Ashworth will reportedly be accelerated.

Newcastle’s new sporting director has their work cut out for them

While this season could still finish strongly for the club, surely few would doubt that Newcastle need to strengthen this summer.

Doing that while working under FFP limitations, however, will obviously make life difficult.

Whoever gets the role, it is going to be a test. There can be few better clubs to work at than Newcastle right now, such is the level of ambition on Tyneside, but FFP will likely make things slightly more complicated.