Rafa Benitez wants to return to Newcastle if their Saudi Arabian-backed takeover goes through – and is eyeing John Stones and Ross Barkley as targets, according to reports.
The £300million takeover from Mike Ashley could finally be pushed through this week and there are therefore doubts over the future of current Newcastle manager Steve Bruce.
It has previously been reported that Bruce will be backed until the end of the current campaign and the new owners are keen to give him the chance to stay in the job beyond that date.
But Benitez, who is in charge of Dalian Professional in China, is interested in returning to St.