According to reports, Newcastle is on the verge of hiring former Manchester United top scout Marcel Bout.
The Magpies, who have made tremendous progress on the field since being taken over by the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund in 2021, are planning to spend big in the January transfer window to reinforce Eddie Howe’s team.
Newcastle are now dealing with a significant injury crisis, with key first-team stars, including Sven Botman, Alexander Isak, and Dan Burn, missing extended periods of time.
Meanwhile, summer signing Sandro Tonali has been suspended till the end of the season for violating the rules of football betting.
Although Newcastle’s Saudi owners have been cautious in the transfer market since taking over, the St James’ Park owners may feel compelled to splurge out on new superstars in order to bolster Howe’s threadbare squad.
According to AD Sportwereld, Bout is on the verge of completing an agreement with the Magpies to become the club’s senior scout.
The 60-year-old Dutchman has previously worked for Manchester United, Bayern Munich, and the Netherlands national football team, and has a long history of friendship with ex-Red Devils manager Louis van Gaal.
Bout began his career at Van Gaal’s Manchester United in the summer of 2014, specializing on opposition scouting before becoming the club’s head global scout between October 2016 and April 2022.
As Newcastle’s chief scout, he will be tasked with identifying the best talent on the planet between the ages of 16 and 23, according to a Dutch tabloid. Bout will only work for the first team, scouting players who would only be considered for Howe’s senior squad.
While Newcastle has the resources to make a big splash in the transfer market, the club has been patient in bringing in first-team players like Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes, and Nick Pope.
Bout revealed that while confirming that he and Newcastle had been in contact, this prudent transfer approach ‘appeals’ to him.
‘I recently made touch with Newcastle,’ he said to the Dutch publication.
‘I’m drawn to the club’s steady growth. I’m also glad to be back in England and competing in the Champions League.’
Newcastle were defeated 2-0 by Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League on Tuesday and now face an uphill battle in their group with games against Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan remaining.