Former Real Madrid and Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez has indicated an interest in any vacancy at Newcastle United, according to a report from the Press Association.
Benitez has been unattached since he parted company with Real Madrid in January of this year and has been tipped to replace Steve McClaren in the St James' Park hotseat, with the club sitting in the relegation zone.
Three members of the club's board -- managing director Lee Charnley, chief scout Graham Carr and club ambassador Bob Moncur -- reportedly met on Monday without McClaren, and the club has spent the time since sounding out possible replacements.
Former Everton and Manchester United manager David Moyes and ex-Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers have also been linked with the position.
It had been suggested that there might be significant developments on Wednesday, with many expecting McClaren to be sacked.
However, the Press Association reports that McClaren's planned face-to-face meeting with Charnley did not take place, although the pair spoke by telephone.
McClaren, who had earlier taking training for the second successive day, left the club's Darsley Park training headquarters and headed home after the conversation.
What was said between the two men remains unclear and the club were not commenting on Wednesday evening, but 54-year-old McClaren was wearing a broad smile as cameras captured him walking towards his car.
Information from the Press Association was used in this report.