Report: Newcastle hired a shock manager before Steve Bruce - he even backed signing of Joelinton

Joelinton is reportedly ready to put pen to paper on a new four-year deal at Newcastle United after talks had previously stalled.

This is according to The Telegraph's Luke Edwards, who, in his write-up, claims that the Magpies nearly went in a very different direction before eventually hiring Steve Bruce.

Newcastle could have been the first managerial position of Mikel Arteta's career had things gone differently.

Mike Ashley was willing to take a chance on the inexperienced manager, and talks were so far progressed that Arteta was consulted on the signing of Joelinton.

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Mikel Arteta passed up on the opportunity to manage Paul Dummett and Ciaran Clark

Ultimately, Arteta decided it wouldn't be the right move for his career and the rest is history. Bleak, Steve Bruce-filled history.

Although, in fairness, we doubt Arteta would have fared much better than the Baron of Bacon did with his lack of experience and lack of resources at his disposal.

It took the Spaniard long enough to get things right at Arsenal. Were it not for the patience of the board, his career could have been very different after leading Arsenal into the relegation zone at one point.

More bullets were dodged here than that rooftop scene in The Matrix

Mikel Arteta is far from any Newcastle's fan's favourite person these days after his whining antics after Anthony Gordon's winner at St James' Park last year, but at the time, we'd have given him a shot.

Imagine Mikel Arteta walking into training on his first day and seeing 2019 Joelinton in action along with 2019 Miguel Almiron, Paul Dummett and Ciaran Clark.

Definitely a sliding doors moment for Arteta, that one, and Newcastle, although both of our doors will have inevitably led to dark pits of despair.