BRING BACK RAFA Forget Pochettino... Toon hero Benitez has ‘unfinished business’

RAFA BENITEZ is the man to lead Newcastle into its new era, says Michael Chopra.

The Toon are on the cusp of being purchased by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund for £300million.

And if the takeover gets rubber-stamped, the Premier League giants will become one of richest clubs in the world.

Steve Bruce is currently in the St James’ Park hotseat after replacing Benitez last summer.

However, with such a mega-investment on the horizon, Bruce’s future at the club looks uncertain.

Former Tottenham chief Mauricio Pochettino has been touted as a high-profile replacement. But local lad

Chopra reckons Benitez – currently managing Chinese Super League side Dalian Pro – is the better option.

“I would go for Benitez over Pochettino,” said former striker Chopra, who began his career at St James’ Park.

“Pochettino

(right) built up Tottenham from a low base, got them to the Champions

League final and even on the verge of winning the

Premier League.

“The only thing against him is he didn’t actually win anything – which puts me off a bit.

“With Benitez, he’s got unfinished business. He did well at the club and had a great relationship with the fans. He just wanted a bit more money to try and push them into the top 10. “Benitez has already got plans for the football club – and at almost every team he’s been at he’s won trophies. “Newcastle are a hard club to manage because you have to get the fans on your side quickly – but Benitez managed to do exactly that.”

Chopra (left) added: “I’ve got friends who don’t enjoy watching Newcastle any more, with Bruce just trying to nick a 1-0.

“It’s not entertaining, it’s not football and it’s not Newcastle.”

The Magpies would be a serious force in the transfer market with the Arab state’s financial backing.

Barcelona flop Philippe Coutinho and Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale are rumoured to be targets.

Chopra believes the duo could be snared – but he has warned that the club may be forced to pay over the odds.

“You need to build things up slowly with four or five players – including a couple of superstars,” he said.

“Bale and Coutinho would be great signings and those are the type of players Newcastle supporters love to watch.

“You go back to the late 1990s with David Ginola, Faustino Asprilla, Alan

Shearer and Peter Beardsley. Fans want those type of players to come back.

“That used to be what Newcastle were about – the entertainers.

“Money talks when you want to sign players and ultimately you’re going to have to pay more to attract them to the north east.

“But if you’ve got the money it’s not a problem.

“I don’t think Coutinho or Bale would turn down the opportunity. Newcastle are a big club and they could be part of this next chapter.

“If Bale wants to come back to England, Newcastle might now be the only club willing to pay his wages.

“With Coutinho it’s a similar story. Will he be going back to Liverpool? No I don’t think so.”