Crystal Palace sporting director Dougie Freedman has rejected and offer to join Newcastle, talkSPORT understands.
Freedman looked set to join the Magpies, replacing Dan Ashworth, who is on to take the sporting director role at Manchester United.
It’s now widely reported that Freedman will remain at Palace and will sign a new contract which comes with a ‘significant pay rise.’
talkSPORT understands that Newcastle are still hopeful that they can persuade Freedman to join up, however.
Freedman, who represented Palace as a player for eight years, had been linked with a move to Man United earlier in the season.
He has been credited with some of their brilliant transfer business in recent years including deals to sign promising talents including Michael Olise, Marc Guehi and Eberechi Eze.
All three were signed for relatively low fees but have been linked with big transfers this summer.
Newcastle are keen to find someone to fulfil the role of sporting director before the summer transfer window opens after the season ends.
Meanwhile, Ashworth has been placed on gardening leave after expressing his desire to join Man United.
Ashworth will partner technical director Jason Wilcox, who moved to Man United from Southampton in April.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made big changes at United since arriving as minority shareholder, including hiring Omar Berrada as CEO from Manchester City.
Wilcox was snapped up from Southampton as technical director with Ashworth seen as the final piece of the jigsaw.