By Wayne Veysey

9th Nov, 2021 | 5:35pm

Sources: Emenalo agrees terms with Newcastle United after breakthrough

Newcastle United are set to appoint Michael Emenalo as their director of football after a breakthrough in talks, Football Insider understands.

The Premier League club are putting the finishing touches to a deal with the former Nigeria international after negotiations took place with the new owners in Saudi Arabia.

A Newcastle source has told Football Insider that an agreement is in place with Emenalo, 56, and it is expected he will be announced as the club’s director of football during the international break.

The imminent arrival of Emenalo comes after Newcastle appointed Eddie Howe as their new manager on Monday.

The north-east giants announced that the former Bournemouth manager has signed a contract running until the summer of 2024.

Emenalo and Howe are set to work closely together on overhauling a Newcastle squad that has looked ill equipped for the Premier League this season.

Emenalo is highly regarded in the industry after 10 trophy-laden years at Chelsea, the last six of which were spent as the club’s technical director overseeing recruitment and manager hires.

He had a less successful two-year period at Monaco that ended in August 2019 but has emphasised in interviews his desire to take on another top-level director job.

Newcastle have also explored the possibility of luring Brian Marwood from Man City and Marc Overmars from Ajax.

As first revealed by Football Insider, ex-Liverpool and Rangers man Frank McParland will also be part of the recruitment team at United.

The club are preparing for a major recruitment drive in January as they look to avoid relegation.

Newcastle are winless from 11 Premier League matches this season and went into the international break five points adrift of safety with 27 games still to play.

In other news, Kieran Maguire reveals “extraordinary” Newcastle United latest as January spree explained.