Paul Merson names manager NUFC owners should target & tells Saudis to forget Fonseca

Paul Merson has urged our new owners to “push the boat out” and make a sensational move to bring Rafa Benitez back to St James’ Park.

The Spaniard - now in charge of Everton - remains an immensely popular figure on Tyneside for his role in stabilising the club on a limited budget and challenging Mike Ashley publicly.

It's no secret that Amanda Staveley had Benitez as her number one target prior to the takeover, but his move to Merseyside has forced her to look elsewhere, with Unai Emery now the hot favourite for the job.

Despite a solid start, Rafa has now won just once in seven games - albeit with injury troubles - as his task to get Evertonians on board begins to look out of reach following last night’s 2-1 defeat at Wolves.

Sky Sports pundit Merson believes we should make another move for Benitez, feeling he would keep us up if he returned, however he's not sold on the idea of Paulo Fonseca taking over.

Here's what he said in his latest column for the Daily Star:

“Newcastle should push the boat out and bring Rafa Benitez back to the club. I’ve said before. They are in trouble.

"They need a firefighter who knows the league and can keep them up – and Benitez would do that.

“They’re talking about Paulo Fonseca? Wow. He just got the sack for Jose Mourinho.

"How long would it take him to get to know the players and the league?

"Benitez knows them all already – and is massively popular with the fans."