Ross Wilson 'fighting for his job' at Newcastle
Newcastle United sporting director Ross Wilson is "fighting for his job" at the club, sources have told Football Insider.
Questions are being asked by the hierarchy at St James' Park about the 44-year-old's player decisions in recent window.
The Magpies have lost multiple first-team stars, including Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali and club captain Bruno Guimaraes, with replacements still to arrive.
Newcastle's players have also been forced to adapt to new manager Matthias Jaissle, who replaced Eddie Howe when he stepped down last month.
Guimaraes' move to Arsenal was said to be the last straw for the Englishman, who was in charge for nearly five years.
With under three weeks left of the transfer window, Newcastle are under pressure from their supporters to finish with a flurry of signings capable of slotting straight into the starting XI.
Ross Wilson in painful Newcastle period
Wilson was appointed by Newcastle in October, having left a role at Nottingham Forest for the job.
Before that, he had enjoyed stints at Rangers, Southampton, Huddersfield Town, Watford and Falkirk, starting out as an academy manager.
Wilson arrived in the wake of last summer's transfer window, which had been dominated by Alexander Isak's move to Liverpool.
Previous sporting director Paul Mitchell had reportedly started the chain of events that followed by not fulfilling his promise of handing the striker a new contract.
After a summer-long saga, the Swede eventually left and the effects would impact Newcastle's entire season, which ended with them finishing 12th.
That finish has left the Magpies largely powerless to avoid losing their brightest players this summer, but there has been discourse over the level of fees received for Gordon and Guimaraes, considering moves elsewhere.
The jury is very much still out on the players Newcastle have brought in, too, which includes two young goalkeepers and no outfield player over the age of 20.
Bazoumana Toure is the big-money arrival so far, having cost £43m to sign from Hoffenheim, yet there still could be an eye-catching signing in midfield.
Their success will determine how likely Wilson is to keep his job, with his future among the uncertainties present at St James' Park.
What Wilson has said about Newcastle's summer
Wilson has spoken about Guimaraes' exit, which has been comparable to the Isak situation for many fans this summer.
"What we had to weigh up was, very respectfully from Bruno with his behaviour towards us, very emotionally as well, he effectively told us he wanted to leave and move on," he said.
"That doesn't mean he can go, but it certainly plays a part in what our thinking is when we hit a certain range of number.
"There's no part in saying it was part of our strategy and was in our thinking this summer - it wasn't. But we have got to be flexible and react to things that happen."
Wilson may prove to be right, but the pressure on his shoulder remains and will only grow more intense if Newcastle do not finish the window in fine fashion.