Newcastle United are edging closer to finding their new sporting director, with Dougie Freedman the latest candidate to enter the conversation.
The Magpies are intending to appoint their new sporting director before the end of the month, with Newcastle United wanting someone in place in advance of the June 30th PSR deadline. That is seen as an important date for Premier League clubs, as they prepare to submit their next set of accounts.
That is why the club are stepping up their search for Dan Ashworth’s successor, with the former FA chief braced to head to Manchester United. However, that move is on hold with the two clubs still unable to agree a compensation package. In short, Man United do not want to meet Newcastle’s demands.
Who is in the mix to be Newcastle United’s next sporting director
Meanwhile, Newcastle are conducting interviews to decide who is the best candidate to take Ashworth’s place at St James’ Park.
For a long time, Paul Mitchell has been the frontrunner. Geordie Boot Boys have been told that he is interested in the role, and he is certainly appealing given his previous work at Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton, RB Leipzig and Monaco.
Dougie Freedman is the latest name that has been thrown in the ring, with Crystal Palace looking for possible replacements should Newcastle United make a move for their man.
The Magpies also have targets from overseas, with the likes of Tiago Pinto, Rui Pedro Braz and Hugo Viana linked.
Why Dougie Freedman might not be who Newcastle United go for
But who will get the job? TBR Football insider Graeme Bailey has spoke to Geordie Boot Boys to give his verdict, and has explained why he thinks a candidate like Mitchell could have an advantage over Freedman.
“He’s [Freedman] in the mix, as well as Paul Mitchell,” he said.
“There are four or five in contention, and they are assessing it now. I still think Dan Ashworth is more likely than not to be in at Man United for the summer, and that will be much easier for all parties to agree on if Newcastle have found his replacement.
“Dougie Freedman is an interesting option. Manchester United like him too, to be their recruitment guy.
“Freedman doesn’t have the European experience that Mitchell does, especially multi-club experience, which is fascinating. I’m sure that is an appeal to Newcastle, as they will be going down that avenue.
“I tend to think they will go with someone who has that European experience like Mitchell, Tiago Pinto, Hugo Viana or Rui Pedro Braz. It will be fascinating to see which way they go, and it could tell us a lot about Eddie Howe too.”
Newcastle have to get this right
Bailey raises an interesting point about Newcastle being more likely to appoint someone with European experience, which Freedman does not have.
His best recruitment comes from the EFL, and that is certainly something that Newcastle need to be better at. However, they are probably not the level of signings that are going to get the Magpies to where they want to be.
Instead, they need to find more players like Bruno and Botman, and hope to sign them up before they truly emerge as top level talents.
For that reason, a move for someone like Paul Mitchell probably makes more sense for Newcastle United.
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