RAFA BENITEZ is being targeted to make a sensational return as Newcastle manager.
The former Toon boss features in proposals by Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who is trying to buy the club for £340million.
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He is working on a return for Benitez, who quit after three years last summer, and that would mean the end for Steve Bruce.
Saudi Public Investment Fund chiefs, along with a consortium including British brothers David and Simon Reuben, are in talks with Mike Ashley in a deal brokered by Amanda Staveley.
And they have made it clear in writing that if successful, they would make a move for the incredibly popular Benitez.
The Champions League winner — now at Chinese Super League side Dalian Yifang — left the club as he claimed Ashley’s unfair demands made it impossible to remain as manager.
New boss Bruce has had to ride a storm since being appointed.
Although his team only drew 0-0 at home to League One Oxford in the FA Cup on Saturday, he has stemmed some criticism as Newcastle are 14th, seven points clear of the drop zone with strugglers Norwich next up. Bruce said: “I just ignore all takeover talk but it won’t affect anything we look to do this week, I’m confident of that.”
The majority of fans would welcome back Benitez who will feel he has unfinished business and could take the club forward with proper investment.
But even if the Saudi takeover is successful, they would not make any move for Benitez until the summer.
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Supporters reacted yesterday to news of a possible deal.
Owen Shepherd, of Newcastle Fans TV, said: “When you look at the likes of Blackpool and Portsmouth there is always the possibility of someone coming in and being worse than Ashley.
“But it’s become heartbreaking. The club is in disarray and it’s all down to one man.
“When you see it’s the Crown Prince of Saudi the first thing you think of is the money and the potential it could bring.
“You don’t think about the human rights abuses but of course nobody wants to see that. It is a dark thing.
“We have so much potential at Newcastle though and I think it is a price worth paying. That money from Saudi Arabia could push us towards the Champions League and enable us to expand our stadium.
“It’s a really exciting prospect to potentially have that bond with the club again.
“Just look at Manchester City. Before their takeover they weren’t as big as Newcastle.
“We have got a bigger community and people go on about all their money but they still have empty seats — if we had a 70,000 stadium we would sell out every week.”
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