The Magpies have made it clear they will stick with Eddie Howe despite a furious reaction to defeat against Sunderland
Jose Mourinho
Experienced manage Jose Mourinho(Image: Getty Images)
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Newcastle United sources have shot down fresh links with Jose Mourinho in the aftermath of both defeat to Sunderland and the club's exit from Europe.
Despite some strong criticism of Eddie Howe and the head coach and his players after the last-gasp and deflating loss, not to mention a chorus of boos as the team left the field, the head coach was nominated for March manager of the month.
The intense criticism has hurt some of the club's senior players, who feel that some people have short memories on the back of a Champions League qualification and Carabao Cup win in 2025.
However, the fact that Newcastle have spoken about being "number 1" off the field has resulted in some observers questioning whether club statements reflect reality as the Magpies sit slumped in 12th spot in the Premier League table, having lost to bitter rivals twice this season.
A report in O Jogo in Portugal suggested that the Benfica chief who wrote that Mourinho is "immune to approaches" as he focuses on the 2026/27 season with the former European champions. As Chronicle Live reported in the direct aftermath of the Tyne-Wear derby defeat, the club's backers are behind Howe, and the plan is to continue preparations for summer 2026 with the ex-Bournemouth man in the hot seat.
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The Mourinho talk in Portugal has strengthened after suggestions of a break clause, which would free him up for a move back to the Premier League at the end of the season. Toon sources are committed to a plan to equip Newcastle for the top honours in English football by 2030.
Toon supremo Yasir Al-Rumayyan spoke of PIF's commitment to its overseas investments from a conference in Miami last week. The Saudi chief said: "The Saudi microeconomic and physical position remains strong, stable, and resilient.
"And the PIF’s portfolio is well diversified and structurally resilient. We are a long-term patient investor. We measure our returns not in quarters, but in decades. And PIF remain committed to its investments around the world."
PIF's top brass have not been spotted at a Newcastle game since the Champions League tie away to Paris St-Germain in January, when Al-Rumayyan was in attendance in the French capital.
However, there has still been daily contact between PIF and the Newcastle board with representatives from Riyadh letting CEO David Hopkinson and sporting director Ross Wilson get on with the job on the ground on Tyneside.
As reported on Monday morning, PIF chiefs will not make any knee-jerk reaction on Howe and plan an end-of-season performance review in which the overall results of the season on and off the pitch will be looked at.
As things stand, the plan is to give Hopkinson, Wilson and Howe the chance to perform in the summer window.
Although there are close eyes being cast over the last seven games, where a European spot is now the target for Howe and his squad in either the Europa Conference League or Europa League.
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