Mauricio Pochettino will reportedly make Philippe Coutinho a prime transfer target should he be appointed manager of Newcastle after their takeover is completed.
Current Magpies boss Steve Bruce is not expected to last long once a £300m deal, backed by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, goes through.
Reports claim the incoming owners have already identified Pochettino as the first-choice candidate to lead the club into a new era, while former boss Benitez has also been tipped to return.
The takeover has seen a host of talented stars from across Europe linked with a move to St James’ Park.
And according to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Pochettino is set to make a swoop for Coutinho if he is handed the job, having been scuppered in his attempts to land the Brazilian by chairman Daniel Levy during his time at Tottenham.
The report states: “Pochettino already tried last summer to sign Coutinho for Tottenham and if he did not succeed it was because of President Levy’s irreparable enmity with the Brazilian’s agent.
“Now, without personal issues involved, Coutinho could reach a club for which, in recent months, [Antoine] Griezmann has also sounded.”
Coutinho, who has spent the season on loan with Bayern Munich, has struggled at Barcelona since his big-money move from Liverpool in 2018.
The playmaker has scored 13 goals in 52 league appearances at Camp Nou since his £142m switch from Anfield.