Newcastle reportedly want Patrick Vieira, who they interviewed for top job in 2015

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Nice manager Patrick Vieira is the latest name to have been added to the list of contenders for the Newcastle United manager’s job, according to the Daily Telegraph.

They report that former Premier League midfielders head up their list of potential successors for Rafa Benitez, with Vieira joined by Rangers boss Steven Gerrard and Manchester City assistant Mikel Arteta at the top.

The report also says that Newcastle have shown an interest in Vieira before; back in 2015, they interviewed him for the hotseat before opting to appoint Steve McClaren ahead of a season that ended in relegation.

But Vieira apparently impressed on that occasion, to the extent that Newcastle are back in again four years later, but it remains to be seen whether he can be tempted away from Ligue 1.

Newcastle’s track record in appointing the right man is perhaps best illustrated by their choice of McClaren over the promising Vieira.

That said, it was the debacle overseen by the former England manager which gave rise to the Benitez era, which offered some brief respite for the long-suffering Magpies supporters so frustrated with their club’s lack of ambition.

The question also remains why any manager would come to Newcastle right now? There’s no real chance of investment, progression or building anything – just simply a chance to take a stab at the Premier League, hoping that your reputation remains unscathed as it’s acknowledged that working under Mike Ashley is a thankless task.