NEWCASTLE are eyeing a double swoop on Chelsea — for academy chiefs Neil Bath and Jim Fraser.
The new Toon regime have already taken Dan Ashworth from Brighton to be the club’s director of football.
And St James’ Park bosses want to persuade Bath and Fraser to help them revamp their youth system.
Bath, as Chelsea’s head of youth development, has led an Academy that does more than produce players for the Blues’ first team like Reece James, Mason Mount and Andreas Christensen.
It has also helped Chelsea generate significant sums of money from selling on those who do not make the grade.
Key to that success has been Fraser, Bath’s assistant and the head of youth recruitment.
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Sources claim Newcastle’s interest in the pair is being discussed among agents and academy personnel across the Premier League.
Chelsea are regarded as vulnerable because the sanctions on current owner Roman Abramovich prevent the club agreeing new contracts with existing players and staff, let alone new recruits.
Newcastle have not had it all their own way with Ashworth.
As things stand, the former Football Association technical director will not be able to move to the club until after the summer transfer window.
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Brighton are insisting that he sees out his “gardening leave” unless Newcastle come up with £5million compensation.
The Chelsea contracts of Bath and Fraser are also likely to include a long notice period and it is unclear what their attitude to an approach would be.
But a new challenge and the riches on offer from Newcastle’s Saudi owners persuaded Ashworth to relocate by 350 miles and the Premier League’s richest club are prepared to invest heavily in all aspects of the business.
