Despite having a marvelous season in his home country, and putting together a side that is still very much in the Champions League. He would jump at the chance to join Newcastle.
His side, Lyon, produced a credible goalless draw with AC Milan this week, and Inter Milan's Roberto Mancini (whose side beat Villarreal last night) has also indicated that he would love a crack of the job at St James' Park.
The Evening Chronicle claims that Houllier has made contact with Freddy Shepherd. They say that Houllier does not get on with his director of football, and indeed at the weekend the former Liverpool boss said on BBC's Grandstand that he yearned for a return to the Premiership.
I don't know how true it is, having Europe's best chasing the Toon job, but it is certainly a boost to Newcastle fans knowing the position is not being handed around and turned down flat by some individuals who don't deserve the job!
Fans are becoming a trifle impatient awaiting word on the new manager, and all they are getting from Fat Fred is "I'm in no rush". He knows his head is on the block and we can't have another disaster like the Graeme Souness appointment, but time is ticking away and weeks are going by.
David Moyes, Sam Allardyce, Paul Jewell, Ottmar Hitzfeld and Steve Bruce are apparently still in the frame, and three of those are NOT what the fans are after. The Chronicle has never strayed from their understanding that Martin O'Neill is the man.