Sunderland legend Kevin Phillips believes Mauricio Pochettino would be 'wrong fit' for Newcastle United

21 Apr 2001: Kevin Phillips of Sunderland is tackled by Andy O'Brien of Newcastle during the Sunderland v Newcastle United FA Carling Premiership match at the Stadium of Light, Sunderland. Mandatory Credit: Stu Forster/ALLSPORT

The Argentine is one of a number of managers linked with replacing former Sunderland boss Steve Bruce when the Saudi Arabian-financed takeover of the Magpies gets the green light from the Premier League.

But Phillips does not think Pochettino should dive in at United when he could head to a club without the need to rebuild.

“If you throw enough money at someone they find it hard to turn down. There is also the size of the club and the supporters,” Phillips said of the Pochettino to St James’s Park links.

“Pochettino struggled to win something at Tottenham and Newcastle have not won something in a long, long, long time. I do not think that would be the right fit for him.

“I imagine he will want to go somewhere where he can win trophies. Newcastle might be that team if enough money is thrown at it but it is not a quick fix.

“It is a three-year project and Pochettino already had that at Tottenham.

“He will want to go to a club where he is challenging straight away.”

Pochettino is one of the favourites to get the Magpies gig with Bruce unlikely to be kept on beyond the end of the 2019/20 Premier League season.

Former boss Rafa Benitez, currently with Dalian Yifang, is also thought to be in the new owners’ thoughts on the managerial front.