Newcastle United will face both resistance and a hefty £10million compensation fee from Burnley chiefs if they decide to make a move for Sean Dyche.
The Clarets boss, who is 10/1 with Ladbrokes to get the Toon job, recovered from a bad start last season to guide his team to 15th place in the Premier League following European qualification 12 months ago.
The Chronicle understood that managing director Lee Charnley was impressed with the performance of Dyche in 2017/18 and has admiration for the 47-year-old.
Dyche has been linked with the Magpies since talks with Rafa Benitez broke down last week and the club announced the Spaniard will leave Newcastle on June 30.
Since then United have been carefully assessing a list of managerial targets but they are yet to make any official approaches.
Instead they are carefully sounding out potential replacements and weighing up what it will take to lure them to Newcastle.
In the case of Dyche, Burnley will demand compensation as the former Millwall defender is contracted until 2022 along with his coaches Ian Woan and Steve Stone.
Geordie coach Stone would be a valuable asset for Dyche if he decided to come to St James' Park after his four year coaching stint on Tyneside.
But chairman Mike Garlick will be prepared to put up a fight to retain his manager.
Garlick stated in January 2018 that Dyche was the signing of the January transfer window when he penned a new deal, and he stuck with him during an indifferent campaign last term.
Speaking in May, Garlick said: "Attentions turn immediately to summer business and looking to strengthen the squad."
He has previously said: "One thing we have always wanted is a stable club, and Sean signing the contract today means we can build and plan for the future."
The other sticking point for Newcastle with all of their candidates for the vacant job is addressing the insecurity at United.
It is well known that the club is up for sale and some of those interested potential applicants have been checking with third parties how serious the takeover talk is at Newcastle.
Managers who are in work may not want to risk their positions only to be dismissed by a possible new owner.
