Paul Mitchell’s departure from Newcastle United is now scheduled for the end of June.
Since July 2024, the Stalybridge native has served as St James’ Park’s director of football, supervising the acquisition of Odysseas Vlachodimos, William Osula, Lloyd Kelly (who has since gone for Juventus), and John Ruddy.
With UEFA Champions League football looming once again next season, Newcastle United’s decision to leave Eddie Howe without a director of football ahead of a crucial summer is audacious, yet the Magpies may already have a successor in place for Paul Mitchell.
Given what transpired in March, Newcastle United may already have Dougie Freedman in line.
After failing in their attempt to sign Dougie Freedman from Crystal Palace, Newcastle turned to Mitchell in 2024. The Glaswegian, however, made a shocking move in March when he abruptly departed Crystal Palace to join Al-Diriyah, a team in the Saudi Second Division, with immediate effect.
Given that the 51-year-old has become one of the Premier League’s most gifted recruiters, bringing players like Marc Guehi, Eberechi Eze, and Adam Wharton to Crystal Palace in recent years for extremely low prices, few would have imagined such a move.
But we think it might be a deceptive tactic for Newcastle to finally sign Freedman. Importantly, the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia (PIF) owns 80% of the Magpies and Al-Diriyah. Because Freedman is thought to have a more expansive job as Head of Sport at Al-Diriyah than just a Director of Football position, PIF may find it reasonably easy to move him between two of their teams or simply rely on the Scot for recruitment guidance.
Marc Guehi may eventually sign with Newcastle United, regardless of Paul Mitchell’s replacement.
Mitchell’s failure to sign Guehi from Crystal Palace, after making many bids, was arguably his biggest letdown at Newcastle. After no other option was discovered, Alan Shearer even referred to the saga as “embarrassing.” However, Newcastle may have more luck this summer regardless of who takes over as the former Tottenham director.
Guehi, an England international with just 12 months remaining on his contract and no plans to sign a new one, is reportedly still a target for Newcastle, according to The Standard. In 2026, Crystal Palace will have to decide whether to sell or risk losing a £50 million asset for nothing.
READ MORE: sportchannel.co.uk
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