George Caulkin names TWO managers in contact with NUFC - Both keen to replace Rafa Benitez
According to George Caulkin's latest piece for the Times, both David Moyes and Laurent Blanc have 'signalled their availability' to Newcastle United following Rafa Benitez's departure yesterday.
The trusted North-East reporter, who reluctantly called Rafa's exit last Friday, states that the club are yet to even drawn up a shortlist to find Benitez's replacement - although he does admit that there's been several managers contact the club to show their interest in the job.
Two of those appear to be former Everton manager David Moyes and ex-PSG boss Laurent Blanc - with both out of work and keen to take over on Tyneside according to the Times.
Moyes has been out of work for over a year now after leaving West Ham in May 2018, with him enduring difficult spells at Manchester United, Real Sociedad and Sunderland following his successful stint at Everton, which ended in 2013.
While Moyes worked wonders at Goodison, building a strong team on a tight budget, his recent record in the game has been anything but inspiring - and is probably the main reasons he's not found a job over the past 12 months.
Starting with Blanc, the 53-year-old would seem a more high-calibre appointment given he's had a highly successful at PSG and also coached the French national side, although he's an unknown quantity in England.
That said, he worked wonders at Bordeaux in his first job in management, finishing second in Ligue 1 in his first year, winning the title in his second season, helping them to Coupe de la Ligue glroy in 2009 and reaching the Champions League quarter finals the following year.
He could be a very wise appointment in the circumstances, but I would seriously question whether he really would join in the middle of this miserable Mike Ashley era?
