Newcastle United are searching for a new sporting director to replace Paul Mitchell.
Paul Mitchell will leave the position at the end of June, just one year after succeeding Dan Ashworth.
Mitchell was announced in the role just days after the Magpies were forced to sell Elliot Anderson and Yankuba Minteh to Brighton & Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest, respectively, in order to comply with Premier League Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and avoid an inevitable points deduction.
United have failed to secure a major signing during Mitchell’s tenure, with the £15million arrival of Will Osula from Sheffield United the only outlay. Mitchell failed to sign Crystal Palace defender Marc Guehi last summer but successfully negotiated the sales of Miguel Almiron and Lloyd Kelly in January.
Almiron re-joined Atlanta United for a reported £13m while Kelly moved to Juventus on loan with a £20m obligation to buy. The funds raised have helped put Newcastle in a healthy financial position as Eddie Howe hopes to bolster his squad ahead of a return to the Champions League next season.
Mitchell had been expected to oversee the summer but his exit sees Howe and recruitment chiefs Steve Nickson and Andy Howe assume control.
Newcastle United begin search for Paul Mitchell replacement
With Ashworth and Mitchell’s spells coming to an end earlier than anticipated, it was unclear if Newcastle would continue down the sporting director route. But now it’s known they will with recruitment specialists Nolan Partners leading the search.
And according to Mail Sport, Nottingham Forest chief football officer Ross Wilson is among the names ‘in the frame’. While no decision has been made - former Arsenal assistant sporting director Jason Ayto is also reported to be of interest - Wilson is believed to have some support internally at Newcastle.
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The 41-year-old joined Forest in April 2023 and has helped to oversee their rise from battling relegation to qualifying for the Europa Conference League. Prior to that, Wilson has enjoyed success in similar roles at Rangers, Southampton, Huddersfield Town and Watford.
The appointment of a sporting director is likely to come after the new chief executive. Darren Eales is due to step down because of health reasons with former Real Madrid’s global head of partnerships David Hopkinson the leading candidate, as also revealed by Mail Sport.
Newcastle United already linked with Nottingham Forest swoop
Wilson is the second Forest swoop Newcastle have been touted with this week after enquiring about winger Anthony Elanga.
Howe’s side first showed interest in the Sweden international last June as part of the PSR-swindle that took Elliot Anderson to the City Ground. However, United ended up with Greek goalkeeper Odysseas Vlachodimos instead.
Then, on deadline day last summer, the Magpies were understood to have submitted a bid of around £35million but an agreement was never close.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side are expected to demand north of £50m. What could also be a key factor is whether or not Elanga indicates he wants to leave and move to Tyneside.
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