Newcastle United have been linked with a shock move for Napoli manager Gennaro Gattuso.
According to Italian publication Calciomercato, the Magpies have apparently sounded out the 43-year-old as a potential replacement for Steve Bruce.
Gattuso was recently linked with a move to Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Nuno Espirito Santo being touted as the next potential manager of Tottenham Hotspur.
Gattuso happens to be managed by the super-agent Jorge Mendes, who has strong links to Wolves and has previously facilitated a lot of moves there for his clients.
But Newcastle are supposedly in the picture according to Calciomercato, who claim interest from the Magpies has only arrived as of today.
Gattuso has been at the helm of Napoli since December 2019 following the club’s sacking of Carlo Ancelotti.
He ended up guiding the club to the Coppa Italia last season, and has this term overseen a pretty decent campaign.
They sit fifth in the table at the moment, but are only two points off second-placed Atalanta with four games to play.
A gamble worth taking if Bruce walked?
There is no suggestion Mike Ashley is about to sack Steve Bruce.
His loyalty to the 60-year-old is sadly unwavering, but Gattuso would certainly be an interesting appointment.
He has done a good job at Napoli up to now, and has instilled an attacking brand of football that has yielded 74 goals in Serie A so far – the same as champions Inter Milan and just five fewer than Atalanta.
He’s already delivered silverware, following the many titles he won as a player, indicating a strong, winning mentality.
It may seem like madness on the face of it given his firecracker ways, but if Bruce did happen to walk away this summer, Gattuso might actually make for a refreshing appointment.
Receive a digest of our best Newcastle content each week direct to your mailbox
