Newcastle United linked to former PSG & Porto transfer guru as consortium cast net for sporting director

Paris Saint-Germain's Portuguese sporting director Antero Henrique looks on prior to the French Ligue 1 football match between Reims (SDR) and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) at the Auguste-Delaune stadium in Reims, on May 24, 2019. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Newcastle United’s owners-in-waiting have already begun working on securing a sporting director in a bid to add more football expertise at St James’s Park.

And according to reports, the Magpies may rival Manchester United in the pursuit of former Porto and PSG transfer chief Antero Henrique.

The Portuguese is widely regarded as one of the most talented directors of football on the continent having shaped the transformation in Paris, with the addition of the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Dani Alves.

He was previously sporting director at Porto, where he responsible for the signing and big-money sales of the likes of Pepe, James Rodriguez João Moutinho, Ruben Neves and Falcao.

Behind-the-scenes work has started on sounding out candidates for key positions on Tyneside, with the expectation the Premier League will give their approval for the £300million takeover by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, Reuben Brothers and Amanda Staveley’s PCP Capital Partners to proceed.

Lille’s Luis Campos, who is set to leave Ligue 1, is a name that has been linked with a senior role in the new regime.

Owen Brown and Frank McParland are other names who have been mentioned in relation to United roles, which would point towards one man getting the manager’s job – ex-United boss Rafa Benitez.

RB Leipzig’s director of football Paul Mitchell, formerly of Tottenham Hotspur and Southampton, is another name who is being considered for the United post.