Steve Bruce left Newcastle United by mutual consent on Wednesday with the Magpies sitting 19th in the Premier League and AS say the Magpies aren’t wasting any time locating a replacement.
Roberto Martinez is the latest name on their radar, but he won’t be an easy person to extract from his current position. The 48-year-old is currently the manager of Belgium, having been appointed in August 2016.
Martinez, whose contract is up in 2022, has presided over 66 matches and boasts 50 wins, so his stock is high right now. Fans on social media have had a mixed reaction, however.
And although Newcastle are the richest club in Europe after their takeover by Public Investment Fund (PIF), PCP Capital Partners and RB Sports & Media, it remains to be seen whether Martinez would leave with an international tournament looming.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar begins in 13 months and Belgium have a lot of pressure on their hands to go deep – the Rode Duivels reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup and the semis of the 2018 World Cup.
Newcastle need a manager to replace Bruce now rather than next year, so Martinez might not be available, even if he’s offered a long-term project with lucrative resources.
In other news, fans not enthusiastic on social media as Newcastle are linked with Ousmane Dembele
