NEWCASTLE UNITED expects to have a new director of football in place by the end of the season, with Dan Ashworth’s move to Manchester United also anticipated to be completed before the transfer window reopens.
Senior Newcastle leaders have had preliminary conversations with a number of leading prospects as they seek to replace Ashworth.
The next step in the process will be to narrow down a shortlist of about three probable candidates, with official interviews scheduled for the following two weeks.
The formal interview process will include CEO Darren Eales and co-owner Amanda Staveley, as well as other top executives from the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund and PCP Capital Partners.
Once a favored candidate has been chosen, they are likely to meet with Magpies chairman Yasir al-Rumayyan, who will then approve the final selection.
The procedure is expected to be completed before the end of the season, though the incoming appointee may be required to serve a notice period if they are currently employed.
Former Monaco sporting director, Paul Mitchell, is understood to figure prominently on Newcastle’s current list of candidates, having previously worked in England with Southampton and Tottenham.
A former lower-league player with the likes of Wigan Athletic and MK Dons, 42-year-old Mitchell made his name as a recruitment specialist during a spell working with Mauricio Pochettino at Southampton.
He followed Pochettino to Tottenham, before moving to Germany in 2018 to take up the role of head of recruitment and development at Bundesliga side RB Leipzig. He joined Monaco as sporting director in the summer of 2020, but left his post in the south of France last October.
Newcastle are also understood to have spoken to Benfica’s Rui Pedro Braz and Roma’s Tiago Pinto, although the club are believed to have a preference for someone with at least some experience of having worked in the Premier League environment.
Newcastle’s recruitment campaign is taking place alongside ongoing conversations about Ashworth’s expected move to Old Trafford.
Staveley has spoken with new Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, but the two sides have yet to agree on suitable terms for Ashworth’s transfer over the Pennines.
Newcastle are certain that Ashworth will not be allowed to join one of their Premier League rivals without a large compensation package, despite the former FA boss being absent from his desk on gardening leave since February.
The Magpies had no game this weekend due to Manchester United’s involvement in the FA Cup semi-finals, but they will return to action on Wednesday night when they face Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
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