Frank Lampard is among the candidates being considered by Newcastle to succeed Steve Bruce whose two-year reign is expected to be ended by the club’s new owners this week.
Bruce has appeared resigned to his fate since the North East club were taken over by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund last week in a £305million deal.
Reports today put Lampard on a list of potential replacements and he is available, having been out of football since being sacked by Chelsea in January, 18 months into a three-year deal at Stamford Bridge.
The 43-year-old joined the Blues when they were under a transfer embargo but managed to lead them to fourth in the Premier League and the FA Cup Final in his first season.
With the embargo then lifted the club spent more than £200million ahead of his second campaign and when results tailed off, Lampard paid the price as he was axed with the club ninth in the table.
The former Chelsea and England midfielder is said to be on a list that also includes Lucien Favre, who was sacked by Borussia Dortmund last December, and Steven Gerrard, who has led Rangers to the Scottish Premier League title in his first job in management.
Newcastle host Tottenham on Sunday in their first match since the end of Mike Ashley’s fractious 14-year reign and it seems highly unlikely Bruce will be in charge.
If an appointment cannot be made in time then coach Graeme Jones could take temporary charge of the team.
Amanda Staveley, who owns 10 per cent of the club, was with husband Mehrdad Ghodoussi at the club on Monday as they met Bruce and the Newcastle squad.
Staveley, and her husband were pictured on the club's website watching training at Darsley Park after introducing themselves to the players. There was no sign in the official photographs of Bruce.
Newcastle are 19th in the Premier League after winning none of their opening seven games.
