Newcastle United sound out candidates for key roles as takeover edges closer

The deal is yet to receive Premier League approval but parties at the centre of the negotiations are still confident and have started to plan accordingly

Newcastle United’s prospective new owners have started to sound out appointments for key football roles, including Lille’s outgoing Luis Campos and Domenico Teti.

The controversial takeover has not yet successfully passed the Premier League Owners and Directors Test, and there remains some doubt about that due to concerns over piracy issues related to Saudi Arabia’s notorious BeOutQ station.

However, the parties at the centre of the deal are still confident and have started to plan accordingly.

The Independent has been told that intermediaries around Europe have been made aware of plans, and begun the process of sounding out potential candidates.

Long-time Rafa Benitez colleague Owen Brown is understood to be confident of a director of football role with Frank McParland involved, but the plan is also for a team of intelligent directors.

Campos and Teti are among those who have already been spoken to by intermediaries.

Newcastle are one of a number of Premier League teams who have returned to small group training following the agreement made during the latest videoconference between clubs on Monday.

Manager Steve Bruce has been impressed with the planning that has got the league to this point during a pandemic.

“They have done everything they possibly can to make sure everyone is safe,” he said. “The attention to detail is fantastic. I think everything has been put in place.

“They have been meticulous in their planning. The vast majority of our squad are satisfied (with the first phase training protocols). Let’s get up and going and see where it takes us. I think all of us want to get it started and finished.”