According to L’Equipe, Lille’s Sporting Director Luis Campos has turned down an astronomical offer from Newcastle United, but did inform them that he might be able to make recommendations to them via his Scoutly company, provided Lille President Gerard Lopez permits.

Breaking | Luis Campos has turned down an astronomical offer from Newcastle United to become their Sporting Director, according to L’Équipe.

He did inform NUFC that he might be able to make recommendations to them via his Scoutly company, if Lille President Lopez allows him to.

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) May 19, 2020

Would-be Magpies owners are keen to make the Portuguese the club’s director of football post-takeover, but he has no intention of leaving Lille despite formally asking to leave on Monday, and he is rather seeking for the club to make changes to the internal hierarchy.

Campos is also wanted by Tottenham Hotspur, with reports last night claiming that he is set to join Jose Mourinho at the North London club.

L’Équipe affirm that Luis Campos has no intention of leaving Lille but is rather seeking for the club to make changes to the internal hierarchy. More follows tomorrow.

— Get French Football News (@GFFN) May 19, 2020

It remains to be seen where the recruitment guru will be next season, but Newcastle might have to look elsewhere for a sporting director, and former Valencia director of football Pablo Longoria could still remain an option.

Here is how some Toons fans on Twitter have reacted to L’Equipe’s claims that Campos has turned down the club’s offer:

I would assume it’s the buyers offering in principle which would go with many reports

— ويل ثوركيتل (@thurkettlewill) May 20, 2020

I doubt they’ll wait until it’s officially announced before they make any moves behind the scenes

— tonynufc1 (@tonynufc18) May 20, 2020

This means the takeover is done if we’re looking for this sort of staff, surely..

— Dan (@danmcfadyenn) May 20, 2020

they can offer a job if they know the takeover is going through, doesn’t have to be announced

— Kieron