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The former French national skipper is due to fly in to Tyneside soon for talks with Magpies directors about replacing Sam Allardyce, who was sacked last week.

Their troubles were further compounded by a 6-0 thumping at Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday evening and within 24 hours, the board had established contact with the man who took unfancied Monaco to the Champions League final in 2004.

Early reports suggested Newcastle were more interested in former Liverpool manager Houllier.

But Houllier told his boss at France Football Federation's (FFF), Jean-Marie Escallettes, that he had no intention of quitting his job as technical director.

Escalettes said: "I talked to Gerard by telephone - he is on business for us in the United Sates at the moment - and he told me 'every time an English club is in difficulty my name comes up'.

"Gerard's word is enough for me. He is at the DTN (technical director) and works for us.

"Gerard had an extraordinary image in England, I'm flattered to hear his name all over the place, I tell myself we made the right choice; everyone wants to have him."

Newcastle now seem to have switched attention to 39-year-old Deschamps, who turned down an approach from Manchester City last summer.

At that stage, he wanted to stay in France with his son still at school but he may now see this as a good opportunity and has agreed to meet Newcastle chairman Chris Mort to talk personal terms.

Sporting Life / Eurosport