Newcastle have been linked with several managers as potential candidates to succeed Steve Bruce. From the sublime to the ridiculous, it’s borderline impossible to keep up with the rumours.
One man who has been linked could be a match made in heaven with Newcastle and he’d have a big point to prove in the Premier League.
Unai Emery was sacked by Arsenal in 2018. He had been the man handed the thankless task of replacing Arsene Wenger in the Gunners dugout.
Despite a win percentage of 55.1% at the Emirates Stadium, he was sacked after just 18 months in charge of the club.
He has since moved onto Villarreal where he has showcased his undoubted qualities as a man-manager.
Last season his team defeated Manchester United on penalties to lift the Europa League for the fourth time as a boss.
Emery has also managed PSG, Sevilla, Spartak Moscow and Valencia. He has proven himself capable of winning trophies and plays a pretty exciting style of football.
The 49-year-old wouldn’t come cheap. Newcastle would need to pay £7 million to activate the release clause in Emery’s contract.
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is a big fan. In August, he called the boss ‘incredible’ ahead of the UEFA Super Cup Final.
Given his credentials, however, that would represent a drop in the ocean and it could be the most important outlay the Magpies new hierarchy make.
Would Emery join Newcastle?
Why not? The project on offer at St James’ Park is an exciting one and surely lots of managers would relish the chance to become part of Newcastle folklore.
The North-East club is a giant in waiting. Whoever can get the Magpies challenging regularly for a place in Europe can become a hero of the football club and Emery might be up for that.
His spell at Arsenal wasn’t amazing. Mikel Arteta is currently proving that perhaps there are underlying problems at the Gunners stopping their chances of progress.
Emery has a superb reputation in world football. As a result, he looks like the ideal candidate for Newcastle at this moment in time.
The charismatic boss hasn’t always managed clubs with a plethora of stars to call upon; something that would help his case of getting the Newcastle job.
Newcastle are unable to do any shopping until January and appointing Emery would represent a real coup for the Magpies.
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