Newcastle United have been told they are on the right track in terms of a Steve Bruce successor amid Erik Ten Hag speculation.
The Ajax coach has been tipped to succeed Steve Bruce at St James' Park with the club also keen on appointing Marc Overmars as the new Sporting Director.
Ten Hag has built up quite the reputation in Europe for his free flowing brand of football and ability to rebuild a squad that's seen a number of big name departures.
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Former Leeds striker Noel Whelan believes Newcastle would be getting 'philosophy' and 'identity' if they were to appoint Ten Hag.
Speaking to Football Insider, Whelan said: "The words philosophy and identity, I think there’s what they’ve got to pinpoint first.
“You’ve got to put that in a bubble, that comes first because without those two things, you can’t build a side.
“You’ve got to find the players that are going to fit the identity that you want. The manager starts with that as well, he’s your starting point and he’ll know what identity he wants.
“From the time he’s been at Ajax, they’ve played some fantastic football. They’re a team that are attractive to watch, they’ve brought through so many young players.
“That will be beneficial to the academy at Newcastle. He knows what it is to be a successful side through the academy into the first team.
“Rightly so, I think they’re looking at good candidates there. They’re going to look into that attractive style of play which is why they’re going for these kinds of managers.
“It’s about getting those jigsaw pieces. Building that philosophy, identity and a side you can put out there on the field.”
