Newcastle United’s new sporting director, Paul Mitchell, insists he is at his ‘optimum’ after years of improving clubs across the globe as he settles into life as one of the Magpies’ chief policymakers.
According to reports this morning, Newcastle United are now exploring a deal for OGC Nice centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo.
Both Alex Crook at talkSPORT and HITC’s Graeme Bailey report that we’ve held talks with the French international over a potential move to St James’ Park, with Paul Mitchell believed to be driving our pursuit of the 24-year-old.
Mitchell’s arrival has been met with total positivity given his immense track record at virtually every club he has worked with in recent years. Now tasked with a wide-ranging brief at St James’ Park, the former Tottenham and Southampton recruitment guru will be hoping to ensure Newcastle’s growth continues on and off the pitch.
Such a stellar recent history made Mitchell one of, if not the most, sought-after sporting director in the game. A cluster of clubs were linked with his services following his Monaco departure, including AS Roma, Liverpool and Rangers in recent months. Speculation also lingered constantly over a move to Manchester United, although the Red Devils ultimately ended up landing Dan Ashworth following his Newcastle departure.
Giving his first interview since taking the job, Mitchell explained why Newcastle was the most attractive offer on the table, while explaining why he can make a real difference in the north east.
When I left Monaco and finished my transition, I was tasked there to hire my successor and to make sure I left the club in the best shape possible. That’s always an objective of mine from when I arrive, to leave it in a better place,” he told Newcastle’s media channels.
“There’s been offers. I don’t think that’s a secret. Some of them have been in the media, some of them true, some of them not true. This time I wanted to come back to the UK, I wanted to take my time. I wanted to make sure the next step was the right one.
“I just think having watched Newcastle grow exponentially in the last few years, the ambition, the city, the northern fan base being a northerner myself, the energy of St James’ Park, the ownership, the head coach – when you align everything that you’re looking for in that opportunity.
“I’ve been on a journey myself in the Premier League and I think I had a successful time at Southampton and Tottenham in particular, then to move to Red Bull, and to culturally diverse my experience and exposure.
“I think I’m at my optimum, so I wanted to utilise all that collaborative experience and put it into something I really believed. Not just with my head but with my heart and I just think Newcastle is the perfect fit for me not just personally but professionally as well”.
