Newcastle are drawing up a list to replace Bruce, high up on that list is Zidane

Newcastle United are drawing up a long list of names to replace head coach Steve Bruce, and high up on that list is the name of former Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane.

Brendan Rodgers, Antonio Conte and Steven Gerrard are just some of the current coaches who are being linked with the Newcastle hotseat, yet the French coach is understood to be among the preferred choices of the new owners.

According to the Mirror, Newcastle's new owners have earmarked Zidane to become the first coach of their ambitious project but the same outlet believes that any proposal would go in through one ear and out the other due to his desire to coach the France national team.

With this latest snub, coupled with the fact that Antonio Conte would likely reject Newcastle due to his bigger plans, it appears as though, despite their newfound fortune, that the Magpies are finding it hard to attract elite coaches.

It now appears more likely that Newcastle could have to go with less experienced local coaches, with the names of Frank Lampard and Steven Gerrard being tipped for the job.