Newcastle United have reportedly identified Villarreal boss Unai Emery as their preferred replacement for Steve Bruce.
With Graeme Jones having taken charge of the last two matches on an interim basis, the club's new owners are pushing to make a permanent appointment before the trip to Brighton & Hove Albion at the weekend.
The Magpies have been linked with an wide array of names, including the likes of Paulo Fonseca and Leonardo Jardim.
However, The Athletic claims that Newcastle are keen to bring in Emery, the former Arsenal manager who won the Europa League with Villarreal last season.
The report suggests that Emery will arrive at St James' Park if personal terms can be agreed and a £5m compensation fee is paid to the La Liga club.
Emery has insisted that he 'does not know anything' about any potential return to the Premier League, two years after his departure from the Emirates Stadium.
Should negotiations break down with either party, Newcastle are allegedly expected to offer the job to former Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe.
Darren Plant
