Former AC Milan, Rangers and Italy midfielder Gennaro Gattuso is the latest high-profile name being ‘considered’ by Newcastle to become their next manager.
Italian outlet TuttoMercatoWeb claim super agent Jorge Mendes has been ‘pushing’ for the former Milan and Napoli boss to take over at the Magpies.
And the report claims their position in the bottom three of the Premier League ‘discourages a top profile’ coach from joining them now.
Gattuso - who has been out of work since leaving Napoli last season - is wiling to join on a short-term deal in a bid to steer the club out of trouble.
Sportsmail reported last week that Roberto Martinez is also in the frame to be the next manager.
The new Saudi-led ownership parted with previous boss Steve Bruce in October, and placed interim manager Graeme Jones in charge.
The Magpies have now eyed Martinez as the ideal candidate to take over at St James' Park as he has a £2million release fee.
Jones and Martinez worked together at Swansea City, Wigan Athletic, Everton and also in the early stages of his Belgium reign.