Eddie Howe once insisted there was “absolutely nothing” that could tempt him away from Newcastle United, but the former Magpies manager is now being linked with the Manchester United job as Michael Carrick’s position comes under intense pressure.
United’s 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth on Sunday appeared to bring Carrick’s tenure close to an end. The club have yet to make a decision, with crisis talks scheduled for Monday, but it is expected that the former manager will leave in one way or another.
Carrick’s team have won just one Premier League match this season – a 5-2 victory over newly promoted Ipswich Town. They went into the Bournemouth game after a 4-1 defeat by Como in the Champions League.
The pressure on Carrick was already severe before kick-off. After the final whistle at Old Trafford, he left the pitch to applause from supporters, who appeared to believe it had been his last match in charge.
Should United part company with Carrick, Howe is reportedly leading the list of potential replacements. The 47-year-old is currently without a club after leaving Newcastle United in July, although his circumstances were very different when he was questioned about the role earlier this year.
Howe built an impressive record during his time at Newcastle. He guided the club to Champions League qualification twice and ended their 70-year wait for a domestic trophy by winning the 2024/25 Carabao Cup.
His reputation had already been established across two spells at Bournemouth, where he helped the club secure Premier League stability and achieved three promotions in five seasons, taking them from League Two to the top flight.
When Ruben Amorim was sacked by United in January, Howe was still in charge at Newcastle United. He was asked whether he could be persuaded to leave for the vacant position at Old Trafford, or for the Chelsea job following Enzo Maresca’s departure.
A reporter asked: “In the last week, you have been linked with the Chelsea job and the Manchester United job. Is there anything that would tempt you away from Newcastle United?”
Howe replied: “No… Not at this current time. I am very happy at the moment and hopefully that stays for a long time. Absolutely nothing has changed from my perspective. I am one hundred per cent here.”
Almost seven months later, Howe left Newcastle, citing personal exhaustion. Changes to the squad and tensions behind the scenes were also thought likely to have played a part in his decision.
Carrick was eventually appointed Manchester United manager on a permanent basis after taking interim charge in January and leading the club to a third-place Premier League finish.
Liam Rosenior became Chelsea manager but was dismissed after 106 days, with Xabi Alonso subsequently appointed. Howe, meanwhile, is available again and has been connected with United once more – raising the question of whether his position has changed since he made that emphatic declaration.
