Ex-Chelsea chief Michael Emenalo is a frontrunner for the director of football job at Newcastle, according to reports.

The Nigerian worked in various roles at Stamford Bridge between 2007 and 2017, and was also Monaco’s technical director.

According to the Telegraph, Emenalo travelled to Saudi Arabia last week for talks with Newcastle’s new owners.

He has emerged as the No1 target to fulfil the same position he did with the Blues from 2011-2017, where he is credited with building the infrastructure for their incredible youth academy.

With his army of scouts he helped identify Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Mo Salah and Romelu Lukaku as signings for the club.

This is why the Magpies are desperate for his know-how, as they begin their own revolution following a Saudi takeover.

The 56-year-old offered to resign when Jose Mourinho returned in 2013 – believing the Special One wouldn’t want to work with a director of football.

The former Chelsea supremo is now ‘first choice’ for the Magpies, but a number of ‘issues’ have to be ironed out before a deal is completed.

Reports suggest he is itching to get back. What better project to have than the richest club in the world, who are starting all over again from scratch, that will listen to ideas of how to grow.

Negotiations are expected to ‘accelerate’ during the international break.