Newcastle United should not entertain appointing Antonio Conte as their new manager and there are doubts as to whether the Italian would even be interested in taking the job, according to Sky Sports journalist Michael Bridge.
The Magpies have been without a boss since Steve Bruce and the club parted ways by mutual consent last month.
What's the latest news on Newcastle's managerial hunt?
Graeme Jones has been in interim charge for the last two fixtures while Newcastle's new owners, who completed a takeover worth £305million last month, have searched for Bruce's long-term successor.
With the Magpies being under new ownership and the Public Investment Fund in control, the Tynesiders have become the richest club in world football.
But Newcastle remain winless this season and only newly-promoted Norwich City are below them in the Premier League table.
It has been reported that the Magpies are hoping to appoint a new boss before the international break later this month and a host of high-profile managers have been linked with the vacancy since Bruce's departure, with Conte among them.
However, it has been claimed that the Italian is likely to reject any advances from Newcastle.
Conte is reportedly in advanced talks with Tottenham Hotspur after the north Londoners sacked Nuno Espirito Santo this morning.
What has Michael Bridge said about Conte?
Conte has won six league titles, including the Premier League crown with Chelsea, during a hugely successful managerial career.
But Bridge believes Conte is not the right man to take charge at St James' Park and feels it is unlikely that the 52-year-old would be interested.
He told GIVEMESPORT: "I don't see the likes of Antonio Conte being attracted to it now.
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"He obviously always wants clubs with money but that's a real project.
"Conte isn't a four or five-year manager. He's a two-year manager and Newcastle need more than two years to start challenging for the top six."
Who else has been linked with the Newcastle job?
It was initially claimed that Newcastle had narrowed their search down to three candidates - Paulo Fonseca, Eddie Howe and Lucien Favre.
But even more big names appear to be in the running, with it being reported that the Magpies are looking to persuade Erik ten Hag to quit Ajax in favour of St James' Park by making him the Premier League's third-highest paid manager.
Roberto Martinez, Steven Gerrard and Unai Emery have also been name-checked as potential successors to Bruce.
According to Italian media outlet TuttoMercatoWeb, Gennaro Gattuso is another candidate after agent Jorge Mendes put the former Fiorentina and Napoli chief forward for the role.