Newcastle United are said to be increasingly confident that they will land Derby boss Steve McClaren as head coach in the summer.
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The Daily Star claims the former England manager has been top choice since the exit of Alan Pardew to Crystal Palace late last years with former Lyon coach Remi Garde seen as a viable alternative.
However the report now claims Garde wishes to remain in France for personal reason and so leaves McClaren as the unopposed choice of the St James’ Park hierarchy.
Derby believe they can keep ahold of the former-Middlesbrough boss, especially considering they may still achieve promotion back into the Premier League this season.
However, it’s certainly a promotion bid that has been waning in recent weeks, a period of seven games without a win which was typified in their draw on Good Friday against ten-man Watford.
The Star reports, therefore, that owner Mike Ashley sees McClaren as his man and unless there’s a major change of heart, Newcastle will attempt to make him Toon boss this summer whilst current boss John Carver will slip back into an assistant role.