90min

Luciano Spalletti the Latest Big Name Manager Linked With Newcastle - And Radja Nainggolan Could Join Him

By Ali Rampling

Tottenham Hotspur v FC Internazionale - UEFA Champions League Group B
Tottenham Hotspur v FC Internazionale - UEFA Champions League Group B / Catherine Ivill/Getty Images
facebooktwitterreddit

Newcastle are eyeing up former Roma and Inter boss Luciano Spalletti as a replacement for Steve Bruce in the summer, and the Italian could bring midfielder Radja Nainggolan to St James' Park with him.

The Magpies are currently in the midst of a takeover bid from Saudi Arabian consortium Public Investment Fund (PIF), led by businesswoman Amanda Staveley.

FC Internazionale v Empoli FC - Serie A
FC Internazionale v Empoli FC - Serie A / Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images

The proposed £300m takeover could see a large scale shakeup behind the scenes at Newcastle, and the potential new owners may look to replace Mike Ashley's chosen managerial appointment Steve Bruce in the Geordies hot seat.

According to Italian news outlet CalcioMercato, Spalletti has been drawn up as one of the potential candidates to take the top job at St James' Park.

The 61-year-old is currently out of a job, having been replaced by Antonio Conte at Inter in 2019, but has enjoyed great success across Europe, winning the Russian Premier League while at Zenit, and the Coppa Italia in successive seasons with Roma.

Brescia Calcio v Cagliari Calcio - Serie A
Brescia Calcio v Cagliari Calcio - Serie A / Emilio Andreoli/Getty Images

The report states that although Spalletti is in contention for the job, the frontrunners are former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino and former Juventus manager Massimiliano Allegri.

Should the takeover be successful, Newcastle are to 'launch an attack on several prime targets' in the summer. It's claimed that if Spalletti takes the role over Pochettino and Allegri, then he will look to sign Inter midfielder Nainggolan, who is currently on loan at Cagliari - where he has scored an impressive 10 goals in 21 Serie A outings.

The 31-year-old played under Spalletti during the Italian's second spell at Roma, before joining him at Inter in 2018.

Newcastle's proposed takeover bid is currently in the hands of the Premier League, with those involved the subject of the owners and directors test before a deal can be put through.

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund will have an 80% stake in the club, while Staveley and billionaire brothers Simon and David Rueben will reportedly have a 10% stake each.