Tony Cascarino believes the Newcastle United job would ‘excite’ Mauricio Pochettino and the former Tottenham boss would ‘embrace the challenge’ of rebuilding the Magpies.
Pochettino admitted in an interview on Friday night that he is ready to return to the management game, and his ‘priority’ to get another job in the Premier League.
The 48-year-old Argentine is no longer on Spurs’ payroll following his sacking from the north London club back in November, which means interested clubs no longer need to pay compensation to appoint him.
And the coach has insisted he would consider ‘all’ options, not just from the top clubs in Europe.
Step forward Newcastle.
Pochettino has been strongly linked, and is the bookies’ favourite, to take over from Steve Bruce at St James’ Park if the Toon’s £300million Saudi Arabia-backed takeover goes through.
Bruce has insisted he is eager to take on the challenge of leading this new post-Ashley era at the club and help build a team to contend at top with their prospective new owners’ millions.
But it is widely claimed they could look for a new man to lead their Toon revolution.
And talkSPORT host Cascarino believes, despite his close friendship with former teammate Bruce, Pochettino would be a great fit.
“Obviously Newcastle has been the one that’s been put forward, and it’s an exciting possibility if the owners get their way and buy the football club with their huge funds,” the ex-Chelsea striker said on the Weekend Sports Breakfast.
“I don’t like speaking out of turn here, because I played with Steve Bruce at Gillingham, I’ve known him for a hell of a long time and he’s still employed as the manager at that club.
“Look, Poch’s gardening leave is finished, so he’s going to be put forward for a lot of jobs.
“Steve’s got to just somehow persuade the new owners at Newcastle that he’s the man to deliver and take this club forward and be given the finds to build a much better side.
Lee Clark says Mauricio Pochettino would be an ‘outstanding candiate’ for Newcastle United
“But if there was an approach for Pochettino from Newcastle it would be exciting, because they would have huge funds and those funds can make you build a team.
“He built a side at Spurs. Ok, it didn’t end with a trophy, but I think that challenge of building is team is something he’d really embrace.
“Poch has done it before and he’d like to do it again, I’m sure.”
