Martinez keen to ‘reunite’ with Jones at Newcastle in £2m deal
Belgium manager Roberto Martinez is keen to be reunited with his former assistant Graeme Jones at Newcastle United, according to reports.
There were rumours the former Everton manager could leave his post as Belgium boss following their exit from Euro 2020 in the summer.
The Red Devils went into the tournament as the world’s number one ranked side but could not win their first major trophy.
Steve Bruce has gone but football’s essential cruelty remains
Goals from Nicolo Barella and Lorenzo Insigne saw them lose 2-1 to eventual winners Italy in the quarter-finals despite Romelu Lukaku’s consolation.
Belgian FA chief Peter Bossaert gave Martinez a vote of confidence after the match and said there would be no change of manager.
However, that didn’t stop the Spaniard from being linked with the Tottenham job in the summer before the north Londoners appointed Nuno Espirito Santo.
And now it looks like Martinez could be one of the frontrunners for the vacant managerial role at Newcastle United after Steve Bruce left on Thursday.
Paulo Fonseca has emerged as the favourite for the job in recent days but The Guardian claim Martinez is in the mix and wants to be reunited with Jones.
The Guardian said:
‘Although Fonseca has been in contact with Newcastle’s owners since late summer no final decision has been made and other managers, including Roberto Martínez, Frank Lampard, Lucien Favre, Steven Gerrard and Eddie Howe, remain under consideration.
‘Martínez, the Belgium coach, is thought to be interested in a job which would reunite him with his former assistant Graeme Jones. Jones, most recently Bruce’s No 2, has been placed in caretaker charge of Newcastle and is set to be in the technical area at Crystal Palace on Saturday.’
Daily Mail reporter Craig Hope insists that any move for Martinez will be relatively cheap with it costing ‘less than £2m to buyout Belgium contract’.
He adds that Martinez is ‘interested’ while he understands that Newcastle have ‘spoken to’ Fonseca but that his standing as top candidate ‘could change if/when they speak to others’.
One thing said to me y’day re next NUFC boss is that odds on Fonseca are reflective of fact they’ve spoken to him, but that could change if/when they speak to others. Roberto Martinez also in frame. He’s interested & it would cost less than £2m to buyout Belgium contract.
— Craig Hope (@CraigHope_DM) October 21, 2021
Meanwhile, outgoing boss Bruce admitted that he and his family struggled with the abuse he received during his tenure at St James’ Park.
And Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has said that he was “really sad” to read of Bruce’s struggles and that things need to change.
Arteta said on Thursday: “Well I was really sad after reading that statement from Steve. You’re talking about someone that’s been in the game over 40 years that has managed over 1000 games and he’s telling you with that experience that he struggled with that kind of abuse so I think we have to accept.
“We can’t take for granted that things are the way they are, no we are here to improve them and change them. I think we have to think about one of the most experienced managers in English history is telling you something. For me it’s a very serious statement and we have to change that.”
