Olivier Giroud has urged Frank Lampard to accept the Newcastle job should the chance arise as he feels it would be the perfect opportunity for his former manager to ‘bounce back’ and prove his ‘quality’.
Mike Ashley’s 14-year stint as Newcastle owner came to an end last week after the Premier League approved a £305m takeover at St James’ Park.
According to reports, Steve Bruce’s position is under huge threat, with Newcastle drawing up a shortlist of high-profile managerial candidates to replace him for the remainder of the season.
Lampard, who has been a free agent since being sacked by Chelsea, has been linked, along with the likes of Antonio Conte, Gerrard, Brendan Rodgers, Lucien Favre & Roberto Martinez.
Asked whether Lampard would be a good fit at Newcastle, former Chelsea player Giroud – now with AC Milan – told talkSPORT: ‘Yeah, definitely.
‘I talked to him a little bit last year and I think he’s looking forward for a good challenge to come back as a manager. And I think it’s definitely a good option for him.
‘I believe Newcastle is a big team in the Premier League and it’s a good challenge for him to bounce back and show his quality, definitely.’
Part-owner Amanda Staveley and Bruce held a meeting at the club’s training base on Monday as speculation continues to mount over his future.
With Newcastle sitting second-bottom of the Premier League, Bruce concedes he will forced to accept whatever the new owners feel is best for the club moving forward.
‘I want to continue, I’d like the chance to show the new owners what I can do, but you have to be realistic and they may well want a new manager to launch things for them,’ he told The Daily Telegraph.
‘That decision is not up to me. I accept that and I will accept what comes my way. ‘I have to wait to have those conversations with people when the time is right.’
