This time last year, Newcastle United were revelling in the ecstasy of winning the Carabao Cup. They defeated Liverpool at Wembley, who would go on to be dominant Premier League champions.
But things are unravelling for Eddie Howe, with the tactics having gone stale and the results bordering on untenable.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe before the start of the match
Following the defeat to Crystal Palace last weekend, The Athletic's David Ornstein has revealed that while his superiors maintain their support for him, Howe will be the focus of an end-of-season review that could force a changing of the guard.
Eddie Howe's Premier League Journey at Newcastle
Season
25/26
24/25
23/24
22/23
21/22*
We're not far from the summer transfer window, but it's currently silly season for the market, with any number of clubs posturing ahead of revealing their hand.
Howe's future is at doubt, though, with PIF and the Newcastle fanbase unhappy with results and performances this season. If Newcastle do not enjoy a sharp upturn over the final weeks of the campaign, Howe will lose his job, and plans have already been drawn to replace the title-winning coach.
Newcastle begin process to replace Howe with big Premier League names
PIF's interest has been piqued by Andoni Iraola, who will become a free agent when his contract with Bournemouth expires at the end of June.
This is one of the most exciting young coaches in Europe, a purveyor of exciting, front-footed football. He's among the favourites to take over at St. James' Park, but the owners recognise the need for top-class results, and they have placed a couple of candidates higher on the shortlist.
That's according to TEAMtalk, who state that Jose Mourinho is one of the favourites to take the reins, should Howe be sacked. Mourinho, 63, is one of the most notorious and recognisable managers in world football, but he is a natural-born winner, and that might be what this crop of wandering Newcastle stars need right now.
Mourinho, currently in charge at Benfica, is one of the most experienced managers in Premier League history. His 362 appearances put him one behind tenth on that list, which is held by Howe.
jose-mourinho-chelsea
Iraola is one of the managers-of-the-future, but he's not there yet, and given the magnitude of this Tyneside project, securing a position at the summit of English and European football, Mourinho could prove an upgrade on the likes of the outgoing Bournemouth boss.
Why Jose Mourinho would be an Iraola upgrade at Newcastle
There is a feeling that this Newcastle project is reaching the end of its life cycle. Certainly, if Howe is to continue at the helm, he will need to show that his side have another lasting purple patch in them.
As things stand, Newcastle are going to go without silverware or a ticket into European competition next season, and with that in mind, maybe appointing a proven winner such as Mourinho could help reshape a stuttering project.
Eddie Howe's Most-used Players at Newcastle
Player
Bruno Guimaraes
Dan Burn
Jacob Murphy
Fabian Schar
Joelinton
Though Iraola is the talk of the town after the news that he will leave Bournemouth this summer, there's a case to be made that he isn't ready to lead a Newcastle side with heightened expectations. Indeed, this is one of the most talented squads in the country, and the fans will expect to hit big heights next year.
Would the potential reward outweigh the potential risk? With Mourinho, you know what you get, and he would demand excellence from the Magpies, matching them in their innate hunger for silver. He is a winner, and Iraola has yet to show he has the same capacity.
Iraola is developing as a manager, but his time at the Vitality has been characterised by topsy-turvy form, as well as impressive football and an intense playing style. Could he create the stability on this big step up? Would he better Mourinho in that regard?
Though he has a name for being a master pragmatist, Mourinho knows how to get the job done, and he has been the creator of some of the most awe-inspiring attacking forces in the division's history. The 4-2-3-1 coach has been described by Mauricio Pochettino as being "one of the best managers in football history" while, of course, Mourinho himself has previously stated that he is "one of the best managers in the world".
There will be some to harbour reservations over the Portuguese. It has been four years since he managed in the Premier League, and his tenure at Tottenham left much to be desired.
However, he's the real deal, and while it would be difficult to imagine him forging a long-lasting dynasty at St. James' Park, Mourinho could use his title-winning expertise to guide Newcastle back toward the mentality and spirit that Howe worked so hard to instil.
Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho reacts
History will be kind to Howe. He will be remembered as one of the greatest managers in Newcastle's history. However, there have been many signs that this is a project reaching its end, and if he does end up staying, it might only serve to taint his legacy.
With a proven superstar manager such as Mourinho keen on the job, PIF may want to bite the bullet and make a change to prevent this ambitious project from stagnating.
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