Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Mauricio Pochettino has seen his odds to become the next Newcastle United manager slashed.
News emerged almost a fortnight ago that PCP Capital Partners' £300m takeover bid for the Magpies had reached the Premier League's Owners and Directors' Test stage.
The bid, spearheaded by financier Amanda Staveley and also involving the Reuben brothers, is backed by the mega-rich Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman.
The deal is in the hands of the Premier League now and reports on Sunday suggested the deal could be approved 'within 10 days'.
As a result, speculation is mounting over Steve Bruce's future at the club, with suggestions the new owners could look to appoint a headline name to kick-start their new revolution.
Pochettino has been out of work since leaving Spurs in November and, as a result, has been the biggest name linked with taking on the Newcastle project.
Bookmakers odds on the Argentine have now dropped from 14/1 into as short as 3/1 that the Argentine boss takes over from Steve Bruce at Newcastle.
That means Pochettino only trails favourite Rafa Benitez in the market, with the Spaniard priced as the 7/2 market leader.
However, Benitez actually trails Pochettino in terms of the most popular punt, with Poch the most backed in the market, attracting 36% of all bets in the last 24 hours.
Kevin Keegan is another market mover, cut from 66/1 into as short as 9/4, although one firm is offering the best price of 8/1.
A pair of international managers follow next, with Roberto Mancini (8/1) and Massimilano Allegri (10/1) next in the betting.
Bookmakers have also released odds on whether Steve Bruce will be in
Oddschecker spokesperson Callum Wilson told Chronicle Live : “It's likely Newcastle United's new-found wealth will ultimately spell the end for local boy Steve Bruce, due to the Magpies' will for a more attractive managerial name at the helm.
“Mauricio Pochettino has been unemployed for several months now, and while he's one of the hottest properties in Europe, Newcastle's financial clout would go a long way in helping secure his signature.”
