Newcastle United will have to pay Tottenham £12.5 million if they want to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as manager this month -- but can do so for nothing thereafter, sources have told ESPN.

PCP Capital Partners, a financial advisory firm backed by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia, are closing in on a £300m takeover subject to the Premier League ratifying their agreement.

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Sources told ESPN last month that the prospective new owners are keen to replace boss Steve Bruce with a high-profile manager and Pochettino is a leading candidate with some reports suggesting they could make him one of the best-paid managers in the world on £19m-a-year.

Pochettino was sacked by Spurs in November after five years at the helm and paid him £12.5m in compensation. However, as part of the terms of his departure, any club wishing to employ Pochettino within six months would have to repay Spurs that same amount.

One source with an intimate understanding of the agreement confirmed that the clause expires later this month, meaning Newcastle would be free to appoint Pochettino in time for the proposed resumption of Premier League games in mid-June.

The delay caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the Premier League deciding whether to allow the takeover to take place is therefore of potential financial benefit to the Saudi group in the context of appointing Pochettino, although he would inevitably want time to work with his new players before games restarted.

The Argentine has not yet indicated whether he would be willing to take the Newcastle job but is keen to work again and despite continuing to hold Tottenham in high regard, the 48-year-old would have no qualms about managing another Premier League side.