Betting on the next Newcastle manager and takeover latest

Rafael Benitez is 3-1 favourite to return as Newcastle manager as talk of a £300m takeover increases at St James' Park.

Reports suggest that Magpies owner Mike Ashley is ready to sell the club to a consortium fronted by British financier Amanda Staveley and backed by Reuben Brothers and Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund.

Benitez took over on Tyneside in 2016, failing to prevent Newcastle from being relegated to the Sky Bet Championship but soon guiding them back to the Premier League a year later.

The veteran Spanish coach helped to stabilise the Magpies in the top flight before being replaced by Steve Bruce in the summer after reports of a series of disagreements with Ashley.

Benitez is currently the manager of Chinese Super League side Dalian Professional but Paddy Power believe that he could be tempted back to England, making him just 3-1 in their next Newcastle manager market.

Max Allegri is a also big mover in the market, with the same firm reporting that the former Juventus manager has been cut from 40-1 into just 6-1. Rangers boss Steven Gerrard is a 12-1 shot.

Current boss Bruce has guided Newcastle to 13th in the Premier League and eight points clear of relegation but Power believe his days could be numbered, making him just 4-11 to depart before the start of next season.

They make Newcastle 4-1 to finish in the top six next season and just 15-2 to win the league in the next five seasons with the potential to spend large thanks to the backing from Saudi Arabia.

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