NEWCASTLE are reportedly ready to swoop for Mauricio Pochettino if Eddie Howe takes the England job.
Toon chief Howe, 46, is torn between remaining with the Magpies or taking a dream post with his country.
The Mirror claim that Newcastle execs would like a swift decision, with Pochettino their No1 target if they need a new manager.
Their Premier League opener against Southampton is under a month away on August 17.
Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi, who have both left Newcastle, were big fans of Howe.
But new sporting director Paul Mitchell was the man who brought Poch to Southampton and may see this as the perfect opportunity for a reunion.
Mitchell and former Chelsea boss Pochettino, 52, also worked together at Tottenham.
Howe admitted he has always had an ambition to be England manager in a book due to be released next month.
SunSport exclusively revealed that he spoke about his Three Lions dream in an interview given before Gareth Southgate quit.
Asked if he would like to manage England, Howe said: “Would that be something I would like to do at some stage of my career? Yes!
“But I’m quite laid-back about it because I’m a believer that what will be, will be. If it’s meant to happen for me it will — if not, it won’t.
“I’m a huge fan of Gareth’s, he’s done brilliant things for England.”
In the book, Cheers to 50 Years . . . On the Sporting Frontline, Howe added: “As a kid I loved England.
“I loved pretending to be playing for England in the garden and I was Gary Lineker.
“I loved Gary Lineker — he was one of my idols. I know I didn’t score goals but I tried and ended up being a defender.
“I was very passionate and still am about my country and England doing well.”
England chiefs see Howe as a leading candidate for the job.
Pochettino himself is another option, while Graham Potter and Lee Carsley have been strongly backed.
Howe broke his silence and addressed his future as he spoke to reporters at the Toon’s pre-season training camp in Germany on Friday.
Howe said: “For me, being very proud to be Newcastle manager, this is all about Newcastle.
“It's not about England so as long as I'm happy, feel supported, feel free to work in a way that I want to work, I've not thought of anything else other than Newcastle.
“I absolutely love the club. I love the supporters. I love where I am at in my career. There's no better place for me to be. That's how I feel.
“I hope that from the answer that I've just given that there's everything you need to know in there.
“For me, it's not about England. England is absolutely someone else's conversation. It's not mine. Mine is Newcastle.
“To speak about something else while manager of Newcastle is wrong. I don’t think I have to say the answer again. The answer is clear.”
Newcastle failed to reach Europe last campaign after suffering a serious number of injuries when his hands were tied in the transfer market because of Financial Fair Play limitations.
But with the new PSR window now open, whoever is in the dugout will be backed by Toon's Saudi owners.