According to The Sunday Mirror (via Shields Gazette), Mike Ashley has lined up Sean Dyche to replace Steve Bruce if the latter is sacked as Newcastle manager.
The Lowdown: Bruce future uncertain
The Magpies have lost just one game in their last seven (Sky Sports) and have beaten the likes of Arsenal, Leicester and West Ham, but that still leaves them 16th in the Premier League table.
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Bruce is not the most popular man on Tyneside (Chronicle Live), and his future at St James’ Park remains uncertain.
The Latest: Dyche in the frame
As such, if Ashley does decide to relieve Bruce of his duties, the Newcastle owner will reportedly target Dyche as his replacement.
The Burnley boss has just over 12 months left on his contract at Turf Moor, although he is in talks with Clarets over a potential extension to that deal. Crystal Palace, Everton and Aston Villa are also said to be keen on the 49-year-old.
The Verdict: Much change?
Dyche has done a magnificent job with Burnley. Despite having one of the lowest wage bills in the Premier League (Spotrac), he has been able to keep them in the top flight since 2016, having twice led them to promotion.
He is actually the longest-serving boss in the top tier, having taken over the role at Turf Moor in 2012 (sportskeeda.com), and fellow Premier League manager Graham Potter has acclaimed the “amazing job” the Kettering native has done at Burnley (Lancashire Telegraph).
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However, whether he is the right man for Newcastle is uncertain – the biggest criticism directed at Bruce has been the stale football his side has played (The Mirror). Burnley only average 43.3% possession compared to the Magpies’ 41.3%, while Dyche’s men have averaged even fewer shots per game (WhoScored).
Granted, Burnley’s squad is perhaps not as good on paper as what Bruce has, but the statistics do not indicate that Dyche would be able to given Newcastle fans the entertaining football they crave.
In other news, Newcastle are interested in signing this Premier League forward.
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