Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez is keen to be reunited with Rangers head of recruitment Frank McParland at St James’ Park.

McParland worked with Benitez at Liverpool and was responsible for recruiting the likes of Raheem Sterling and Jordon Ibe.

He has since worked at Brentford, Burnley and now Ibrox and maintains a strong reputation for identifying talent that can return good value for clubs.

Rafa Benitez is keen to reunite with Rangers head of recruitment Frank McParland at Newcastle this summer

McParland worked with Benitez when he was in charge of Liverpool before moving to Brentford and Burnley

McParland's successes in recruitment include unearthing Raheem Sterling, pictured playing for Liverpool

Newcastle’s chief scout Graham Carr, now aged 71, is ready to leave the club and Benitez wants someone he can trust to help with recruitment as he prepares to prolong his stay.

Ironically, the interest comes as Rangers enter a new legal battle with Mike Ashley over their merchandising deal.

MCPARLAND'S CAREER SO FAR McParland was chief scout at Liverpool between 2003 and 2007 before joining Watford as director of football. He then moved back to Liverpool as director of academy and player development. In 2013 he left that role before joining Mark Warburton at Brentford. McParland left Brentford at the same time as the current Rangers manager. The boyhood Liverpool fan spent a period with Burnley before joining his ally Warburton at Ibrox in 2015. Advertisement

McParland has a strong relationship with Rangers manager Mark Warburton and assistant David Weir and the close friends are well down the line with planning Rangers’ return to the Scottish Premiership.

McParland has embraced life at Ibrox and played a key role in Rangers signing Jordan Rossiter from Liverpool for £250,000, a player who could go on to make the club a big profit. He has also been instrumental in convincing Joey Barton to hold talks over a potential move from Burnley.

He also brought talented winger Jordon Ibe to Anfield before spells with the likes of Burnley and Brentford

McParland has a good relationship with Rangers manager Mark Warburton but could be tempted to move

Indeed, any Newcastle interest could yet threaten Rangers’ move for Barton as he weighs up their offer of a two-year contract over the next few days.