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Newcastle are targeting Erik ten Hag to replace Steve Bruce but the new Saudi-led owners are struggling to lure the Ajax boss to St James' Park, reports claim.

The Magpies are willing to make the Dutchman one of the highest-paid managers in the Premier League, with a salary of £6million a year after tax — a gross wage of just over £11m.

But the club's new directors, including director Amanda Staveley, are struggling to persuade him to make the switch to Tyneside as the search for Bruce's predecessor enters its second week. 

Newcastle are willing to make Erik ten Hag one of the highest-paid bosses in Premier League

The club's new directors - including Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi pictured at Crystal Palace - are struggling to convince the Ajax boss to take the Magpies job

The 51-year-old has established a reputation as one of Europe’s top emerging coaches - winning two Dutch titles and reaching the Champions League semi-finals in 2019 - and leaving Ajax for Newcastle, given their position, would be a risk.

Ten Hag is reluctant to take the Newcastle job because he has concerns over the enormity of the task he would face just to keep the Magpies in the top-flight, according to The Mirror. 

The Dutch manager is refusing to comment on suggestions that Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund want him to become Toon boss but Saturday's defeat to Chelsea will not have helped the situation.  

Magpies' search for Steve Bruce's successor has entered a second week after he left the club

'Will it be Champions League or Championship? That is the ­question that bothers Ten Hag,' a source told The Mirror.

'Right now he is top of the group with Ajax in the Champions League and he can be sure of taking them into the knockout stages in 2022.'

A switch to Newcastle from Ajax would be a risk for Ten Hag

The Magpies were plunged deeper into a relegation battle at the weekend but Newcastle are prepared to equip their new manager with a huge war chest in the January transfer window.

But it may not be enough to secure Ten Hag's services as Barcelona's sacking of Ronald Koeman and serious doubts over Ole Gunnar Solskajer's future at Manchester United have complicated Newcastle's chances.

Ten Hag is on the Catalans' shortlist as they face problems brining priority target Xavi to the Nou Camp due to his contract at Qatari club Al Sadd. 

The 51-year-old is also on United's radar as Solskjaer inches increasingly closer to an Old Trafford exit. 

Ten Hag has already refused offers from three jobs in the Bundesliga, an Italian club and Tottenham because they didn't suit his plans. 

Newcastle are also targeting Ajax's highly-rated sporting ­director Marc Overmars and if they succeed in bringing him to Tyneside, it could give them the edge over Ten Hag's other suitors. 

Newcastle's new owners are also said to be targeting Ajax sporting director Marc Overmars

Ajax have refused to comment on both Ten Hag and Overmars's futures but are concerned that their season could be derailed. 

'Overmars has got Ajax ­moving to great heights with his vision. That process is not ­finished yet for a while,' said Ten Hag, as he claimed he had not spoken to the sporting director about Newcastle in a weekly press conference. 

Also in the running for the Newcastle job are former Roma boss Paulo Fonseca, who held talks with club officials last week, plus Roberto Martinez, Frank Lampard and Lucien Favre.