Marseille manager Andre Villas-Boas has turned down an approach from Newcastle United, despite an offer to ‘significantly’ increase his wages.
The Magpies are believed to be on the hunt for a big-name manager to replace Steven Bruce should their takeover by a Saudi Arabian investment group go through.
Villas-Boas is one of the names who is on their list, according to reports, after an impressive season with Marseille in Ligue 1.
It’s been widely rumoured he could be leaving the club after the departure of director of football Andoni Zubizarreta and Newcastle was touted as a possible destination.
They report that the Portuguese boss recently ‘turned down advances’ from Newcastle, who were offering him a ‘golden bridge’ and a ‘significantly higher salary’ than what he is earning in France.
Villas-Boas wasn’t interested, though, and is instead weighing up what to do about his future at the Ligue 1 club.
He is struggling to digest the departure of Zubizarreta, who he wanted to work alongside for the foreseeable future and was ready to sign a new deal to do so.
His thinking has now changed, and, while he isn’t planning on resigning, there is no hurry, and the ball is very much in his court. What won’t be happening, however, is a move to Newcastle.
