Rio Ferdinand believes Newcastle United should go all out to appoint Antonio Conte as Steve Bruce’s successor, with the veteran manager set to be relieved of his duties imminently.
The club’s new Saudi Arabian owners are set to make big changes at St James’ Park, starting with the head coach, and the likes of Lucien Favre, Graham Potter and Brendan Rodgers have all been linked with the soon-to-be-vacant post.
Former Chelsea and Inter Milan title winner Conte is the standout available candidate, though he has rejected advances from other clubs since leaving the San Siro at the end of last season.
The Italian is believed to be reluctant to join a project club that will take several years of rebuilding, though Ferdinand says ‘money talks’ and has encouraged Newcastle to go after Conte.
Asked who he would appoint, Ferdinand said on his Vibe with FIVE YouTube show: ‘It’s difficult. Of people that are available at the moment, Conte’s got to be up there on your list.
‘Sometimes it’s about the money. The money talks nowadays as well.’
He added: ‘I think Conte. He’s the one that’s available. Can you get him? Push your luck.’
Bruce could be axed before Newcastle’s upcoming game against Tottenham and is in line for an £8million payoff, with first-team coach Graeme Jones likely to be placed in caretaker charge, though Ferdinand says it is the brutal reality of the sport.
He continued: ‘This shows you the brutality of football. New owners come in and the manager just gets the sack straight away, no sentiment, no feeling behind it. “He isn’t what we want, see you later”.
‘He’ll get paid up, don’t worry about that. Goodnight Vienna. When people ask players to be loyal and all this stuff, the word loyal in football isn’t here anymore. It’s not about that.
‘This is part of the game. Steve Bruce will know that. He’s not a mug, he will know. He will be sitting there waiting for the phone call – if he’s not had it already – to say, “Thank you very much but you’re not the guy anymore”.
‘I’m positive that will happen. I don’t see him being there or being the short-term or long-term person they want in place. They’ve got plans now to go on and do crazy stuff there and I don’t think they see Steve Bruce, with respect, as the guy to do that for them.’
MORE : Newcastle United target Brighton’s Graham Potter to replace Steve Bruce
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