Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira is ready to speak to Newcastle as the Magpies seek out a replacement for Rafa Benitez.
But Nice are determined to hold on to Vieira, who led them to seventh place in Ligue 1 last season, and will battle Newcastle all the way to keep hold of their manager.
Former Arsenal and Manchester City midfielder Vieira has been hotly tipped for a successful career in management ever since his days as City's under-21 coach.
Since leaving City in 2016 the former France star has taken his first steps in first-team management, first at New York City before taking over at Nice last year.
And Vieira feels he is ready for the challenge of taking on a Premier League club, according to the Sun .
However, the former Arsenal skipper is thought to have concerns over working with current Newcastle owner Mike Ashley.
Vieria was sounded out by Newcastle three years ago before they ended up giving Steve McClaren the job.
He is happy at current club Nice, where is he is trusted to make decisions on recruitment with little interference from upstairs.
Vieira was, for example, instrumental in appointing his former Arsenal team-mate Giles Grimandi as the club's technical director.
Nice have made it clear they will fight to keep the 43-year-old World Cup winner.
Former Liverpool skipper Steven Gerrard and ex-Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger have also been linked with the Newcastle hotseat, although the latter said he was not yet ready to return to management just 12 months after his 22-year reign at the Emirates came to an end.
