OPINION
Former Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores is reportedly being considered to succeed Rafa Benitez at Newcastle United and it should come as no surprise.
The Telegraph reported on Friday that the 54-year-old was one of the managers being considered by the Magpies, but stressed no approach had been made as of yet.
However, it seems very believable that Flores would be a contender for the job as he sounds right up Mike Ashley’s alley.
After all, as the Telegraph states, the Spanish manager would cost the Newcastle nothing in compensation as he is a free agent after resigning from Chinese side Shanghai Shenhua earlier this week.
Given under Ashley’s ownership, the Magpies made a £21million profit in last summer’s transfer window, making them only one of three sides to end with their transfer spend not in the red, it shows the businessman is unlikely to spend money on hiring a manager as he is reluctant enough to spend it on players. (Source: Sky Sports)
This means Flores ticks a box.
The 54-year-old is also Premier League proven.
Flores was in charge of Watford during their 2015/16 campaign, averaging 1.3 points per match (Source: Transfermarkt), and guided them to a 13th-placed finished, which is where the Magpies finished in their latest campaign and got them to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
The Hornets finished comfortably safe from relegation, so Ashley knows that Flores has a good chance of keeping the Magpies in the Premier League if it came down to it, based on his track record.
As after all, he was the first manager to achieve Premier League survival with Watford.
Also while Watford were busy in the transfer market during Flores’ brief reign, they didn’t spend too much on new recruits as no player cost £10million or above (Source: Transfermarkt).
So this shows that Flores can work on the strict budget Ashley will likely hand him, and Sky Sports previously highlighted why Flores did well at Watford in an old end of season review.
The broadcaster pointed out that Flores did well managing a side with 16 new recruits and a squad of 22 different nationalities, and given that the Magpies look a little in disarray after Benitez’s exit, a manager who can succeed when tackling a challenge will no doubt be another reason why Ashley would be keen.
So with that in mind and the 54-year-old reportedly a contender for the Newcastle job, don’t be surprised if he ends up being Ashley’s man.
