Paulo Fonseca has emerged as the favourite to replace Steve Bruce as Newcastle boss, with odds plummeting from 9/1 to 1/2 in the last 24 hours as pundits pile in on the former Roma boss.
Bruce's departure was finally announced on Wednesday morning, with Newcastle confirming the veteran coach has left by 'mutual consent'.
Sportsmail understands Newcastle will now hold crunch talks with Fonseca in the next 24 hours, having already held initial discussions.
Fonseca is currently without a club despite being heavily linked with a move to Tottenham this summer, before the north London outfit eventually appointed former Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo.