Ex-Newcastle United man in frame as Champions League rivals ponder astounding chop call

Newcastle United stand at what looks to be their final Premier League hurdle. Win tonight - even draw - and Champions League football will return to St James’ Park for the first time in two decades.

It would represent a remarkable campaign for Eddie Howe’s Magpies, who fought relegation a little over 12 months ago.

And while all eyes will turn to new recruits on Tyneside, one eye might well be on who the Magpies might end up drawing in the world football’s premier club competition.

One side who could well be drawn is Napoli, who have just won the Serie A title under the guidance of Luciano Spalletti.

The dust has barely settled on Napoli being crowned champions, but change at the top could well be in the offing.

According to reports in Italy, tensions have begun to boil over in Naples, with Spalletti and owner Aurelio De Laurentiis not seeing eye-to-eye.

Spalletti, who has delivered the club’s first title in 33 years, was not mentioned by the owner when he made congratulations to the press in relation to the championship victory. He also refused to discuss the manager’s future.

He has reportedly not spoken to his manager, who has one year left on his current deal, since the title was won.

What Spalletti has said about his future

Napoli beat Champions League finalists Inter Milan 3-1 at the weekend and have just two games remaining this campaign, although the title was already won earlier this month.

Speaking about the future, Spalletti said: “The matter has been decided, you don’t change your mind every day. It is a situation that has been brewing for a long time.

“When you work from morning to night, some matters tend to mature in your mind, because you have to put this spectacle on all the time. If you are not convinced that you can give everything these people deserve, it’s right to think it over. You think it over, you arrive at a conclusion and then you stick with it. This is not something that just fell from the sky out of nowhere.”

Potential replacements eyed - including an NUFC hero

Should Spalletti depart a number of managers are reportedly being eyed, while the name of a former Napoli boss, and a man who holds a special place in the Newcastle United fans’ hearts, is being mentioned prominently.

According to Il Corriere dello Sport, Napoli have already opened talks with Rafa Benitez about the possibility of replacing Spalletti.

Reports suggest Antonio Conte, recently binned by Tottenham Hotspur, could also be in the frame.

Benitez spent two seasons at Napoli between 2013 and 2015. He has not worked since being sacked by Everton in 2021/22.