Manager linked with Newcastle is now heading to Spain

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Newcastle United remain in pursuit of a new manager following Steve Bruce’s St James’ Park exit last month.

Although it looks as though Eddie Howe is closing in on the Magpies reins, it’s not yet official.

However, another manager who was recently linked with the Newcastle job is officially going elsewhere.

Al-Sadd have confirmed that Xavi is now heading back to Barcelona to take the reins at his boyhood club.

The Qatari club wrote on social media: The Al-Sadd administration has agreed on Xavi’s move to Barcelona after the payment of the release clause stipulated in the contract.

“We’ve agreed on cooperation with Barcelona in the future. Xavi is an important part of Al-Sadd’s history and we wish him success.”

Ian McGarry told the Transfer Window Podcast last month that the 41-year-old was a potential Newcastle target.

“One name which I find very interesting that has been mentioned to me, not that there has been an approach made as far as I’m aware of, but certainly an interest from one of the parties is Xavi Hernandez, the former Barcelona captain,” said McGarry.

“However, it has been relayed to me from someone very close to Xavi that he’s not keen to follow Koeman directly into the job at Camp Nou.

“He sees the problems – both financially and with regards to the playing squad – certainly not as insurmountable, but as certainly problematic.

“As very much a club legend and Barcelona through and through, he doesn’t want to put himself in the position of taking that job under the circumstances in which the club now find themselves.

“Newcastle United could well be a good staging post for him with regards to increasing his experience in a much superior league and also being a challenge with regards to taking a very big club on, which is not as big as Barcelona, but certainly one of the larger ones in English football.”

The above is obviously no longer the case, as Xavi has answered the call for the ailing Catalan club.

However, while Barca are currently punching below their weight in La Liga, Newcastle are battling for their Premier League status.

Therefore, someone like Howe is a much better shout for the Magpies, given his knowledge of the Premier League and experience in relegation battles.