Newcastle United’s prospective new owners have reportedly drawn up a four-man shortlist to replace Steve Bruce at the end of the 2019/20 Premier League season – and it contains one surprise Bundesliga name.

According to Eurosport journalist Manu Lonjon, if the Saudi-financed takeover get the green light from the Premier League, as expected, Rafa Benitez, Mauricio Pochettino, Massimiliano Allegri and Lucien Favre are all names in the frame to take charge of first-team matters.

While former Spurs boss Pochettino is out of work at present, having effectively been placed on gardening leave by Daniel Levy, ex-United favourite Benitez would cost upwards of £20million to free him from a deal with Dalian Yifang, which still has two years to run.

Ex-Juventus and AC Milan boss Allegri is also a free agent, having taken a year-long sabbatical after five straight Serie A title wins in Turin, while Borussia Dortmund boss Favre is a surprise name on the list.

PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 11: (FREE FOR EDITORIAL USE) In this handout image provided by UEFA, Lucien Favre, Head Coach of Borussia Dortmund looks at the pitch prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes on March 11, 2020 in Paris, France. The match is played behind closed doors as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). (Photo by UEFA - Handout/UEFA via Getty Images) | Getty Images

placeholder image — PARIS, FRANCE - MARCH 11: (FREE FOR EDITORIAL USE) In this handout image provided by UEFA, Lucien Favre, Head Coach of Borussia Dortmund looks at the pitch prior to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at Parc des Princes on March 11, 2020 in Paris, France. The match is played behind closed doors as a precaution against the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus). (Photo by UEFA - Handout/UEFA via Getty Images) | Getty Images

Favre’s Dortmund deal comes to an end this summer.

Current United boss Bruce faces an uncertain future beyond the end of a Premier League season, suspended indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic.

A Daily Telegraph claims Bruce, controversially appointed as Benitez’s managerial successor on a three-year contract last summer, “does not expect to be part of the longer-term plans” of the prospective owners, who are waiting for the Premier League to complete their owners’ and directors’ test.

The report adds that Bruce’s attempts to find out information about the situation from owner Mike Ashley “have been met with silence”.