Newcastle United have work to do this summer as they look to push on and become even more of a force in the Premier League.
The Magpies have, once again, secured Champions League football heading into next season, and they should have money to spend.
Alexander Isak is a wanted man, but Newcastle will be hoping to keep their star man and add more quality around him to kick on.
On top of that, Newcastle also need a new Sporting Director as Paul Mitchell gears up to leave St James’ Park at the end of the month.
Speaking on NUFC Matters, Ben Jacobs has been discussing which Sporting Director Newcastle could now go for, and he says that Phil Giles could be a contender for this job, noting that the 49-year-old is actually a Newcastle fan.
Eddie Howe looks on during Newcastle's Premier League match.
Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images
Phil Giles could get Newcastle job
Jacobs spoke about Newcastle’s task when it comes to replacing Paul Mitchell.
According to the journalist, Phil Giles could be in the mix as Newcastle look for a new Sporting Director, claiming that the Brentford chief is indeed a boyhood Newcastle supporter.
“Let’s see what direction they go, will they go for a Michael Edwards type CEO of football or will they stick with a Sporting Director?” Jacobs queried.
“That’s an interesting debate, the clue to who they hire next will show you the direction of travel with the model. I’m not aware that anyone has been offered the role yet, you have also in terms of Premier League experience links with Phil Giles too who is a Newcastle United fan, he’s another one they looked at before hiring Paul Mitchell.”
What Thomas Frank has said about Phil Giles
Giles has made quite the name for himself as a clever operator within the Premier League at Brentford.
Indeed, this is the Sporting Director who has taken the Bees from the Championship to being an established mid-table side.
Via The Athletic, Thomas Frank has hailed Giles in the past.
“Phil is one of the most intelligent people I have ever spoken to,” Frank said.
“Not only about football but strategies, processes, alignment. We run everything past each other. I really enjoy working with him. He is less emotional than me, and that’s a good combination.
“He is good at handling tricky situations with people. He is calm, listens to a lot of input and makes decisions from there.”
Frank has, of course, left Brentford recently to head for Tottenham and as Brentford enter a new era under a different manager, perhaps Giles will also be looking for a new challenge away from west London.
This is certainly a situation to keep an eye on at Newcastle.