Newcastle United are expected to choose Nottingham Forest chief football officer Ross Wilson as their preferred candidate for the vacant sporting director role.

The search for Paul Mitchell’s replacement has been ongoing with former Arsenal assistant sporting director Jason Ayto interviewed but it is anticipated that Wilson will be offered the position.

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The 41-year-old has a good relationship with Newcastle manager Eddie Howe, who is involved in the process along with majority shareholders, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), and co-owner James Reuben, which is thought to count in his favour.

PIF have also been aware of Wilson for several years, including interest when he was sporting director at Rangers between 2019 and 2023, in which time the club won their first league title for a decade and reached the Europa League final.

Wilson helped take Forest back into European football for the first time in 30 years last season but the Newcastle job would be another step up in a career that started off at Falkirk before spells with Watford, Huddersfield Town, Southampton and Rangers.

His profile as a sporting director who creates a strong club culture and builds the infrastructure needed to support a manager is also seen as being a good fit for Howe who is hands-on with recruitment and football matters.

No official approach has been made to Nottingham Forest yet.

The sporting director role at Newcastle has been vacant since Mitchell officially departed on June 30, less than 12 months after being appointed as Dan Ashworth’s successor.

Head of recruitment Steve Nickson and assistant head of recruitment Andy Howe were placed in interim charge of overseeing transfer deals amid Mitchell’s exit.

Newcastle’s anticipated offer to Wilson comes amid a series of changes to the club’s hierarchy. CEO Darren Eales is serving his notice after being diagnosed with blood cancer. Former Real Madrid executive David Hopkinson is among the leading contenders to be appointed the club’s new chief executive.

Newcastle announced on Monday the appointment Atalanta’s director of football intelligence Sudarshan Gopaladesikan as their new technical director. Gopaladesikan will report into the club’s new sporting director.

(Photo: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)