A report in France’s respect L’Equipe claims that Newcastle’s would-be owners have made contact with Lille’s in-demand Director of football Luis Campos and ‘made an offer’ to the Portuguese to come to United when the takeover gets the green light.
Newcastle United’s prospective owners are understood to be looking for a director of football as part of an overhaul of the club’s operations.
And Campos – whose future at Lille is uncertain – is reported to be high on their agenda by L’Equipe.
Campos is known as the man with the Midas touch, having uncovered more than £500million worth of talent while at Monaco and Lille. Players unearthed on his watch include Kylian Mbappe, Nicolas Pepe, James Rodriguez, Anthony Martial, Fabinho, Bernardo Silva and Benjamin Mendy.
That would make a hot property if he left Lille – with Spurs another club understood to be interested. Reports that he has signed a deal to join Jose Mourinho were denied last night as fresh links to Newcastle emerged - although the link to Tottenham remains strong.
L’Equipe wrote that Newcastle had table an “astronomical” offer to Campos, which he had turned down. But the situation could run and run and when United’s takeover situation is resolved it would be no surprise to see it revisited.
There’s no timescale yet for the Premier League checks to be finished but sources close to the deal remain very confident an announcement will come soon.
ChronicleLive has been told by sources close to Nikos Dabizas that the former United man has also been contacted. Dabizas is currently in a similar role at Panathinaikos but would welcome the opportunity to move back to the North East.
