In the past, deals between Marseille and Newcastle United haven’t really gone that well.
The names Rémy Cabella and Florian Thauvin aren’t exactly acclaimed ones on Tyneside, but there is one man currently in the south of France who could do a decent job, and that’s André Villas-Boas.
The Portuguese manager took over the Ligue 1 side last summer, and immediately turned them into a very competitive force, as they finished the season in second after the French government decided to cut the 2019-20 campaign short.
We all know Newcastle are currently in the middle of a big takeover bid, which has led to swirling rumours of Mauricio Pochettino potentially replacing Steve Bruce.
However, if the Argentine decides against a move to St James’ Park following his sacking from Tottenham, the Magpies will need an alternative, which is where Villas-Boas comes in.
According to Foot Mercato, the 42-year-old, the plans B and C behind Pochettino are Borussia Dortmund’s Lucien Favre and the Portuguese manager, in that order.
The Swiss isn’t in as comfortable of a position at the Bundesliga club, and while the former Chelsea and Tottenham man is well liked at Marseille, his current deal runs out in 2021, and Foot Mercato state ‘he has yet to receive sign from the board about a possible extension’.
Described as ‘freedom loving’, it’s explained he could ‘be the subject of other approaches at the end of the season’ and ‘could think twice’ about a move to Newcastle should they come forward, even if ‘he recently stated he didn’t see himself returning to England’.
