Eddie Howe's long-term future at Newcastle United is under threat following the derby day defeat to Sunderland, according to Craig Hope.
The Magpies currently sit 12th in the Premier League and are on the brink of missing out on European football entirely for next season, while they failed to defend their Carabao Cup crown and were humiliated by Barcelona in the Champions League this season, losing 7-2 at the Camp Nou to crash out at the Last 16 stage.
Now Howe, who is the club's most successful manager of the modern era, has seen his position come under scrutiny as the club make plans for the new season with the reality of no European football very real.
Newcastle Could Sack Howe This Summer
Eddie Howe
According to a report by Craig Hope in the Daily Mail, the club feel they need to overhaul the squad this summer but without Champions League football they will need to sell to buy, despite selling Alexander Isak for a British record £125m last summer.
Howe splashed £250m on six players last summer, bringing in Anthony Elanga, Jacob Ramsey, Malick Thiaw, Nick Woltemade, Aaron Ramsdale, and Yoanne Wissa, and failing to qualify for Europe's top competition means that big sales are likely to be needed to free up funds for transfer outlay and wages.
Sandro Tonali has been strongly linked with a move away, while Anthony Gordon is also understood to be liked by top clubs, and they could be sacrificed by the club in order to fund the rebuild.
Howe is keen to stay at St James' Park and oversee the rebuild, and he retains the backing of the hierarchy within the club currently. But there is also no guarantee that he will still be in charge come August, with the club set to reassess their situation once the current campaign comes to an end.
The 48-year-old has been at Newcastle since 2021, and signed a long-term contract extension in 2023, although when that deal expires has never been made public knowledge.
Howe Exit Would Be Baffling by Newcastle
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe looks on
While Howe's performance this season has undoubtedly been underwhelming, he hasn't hidden from that and the players have also not lived up to the level that was expected from them.
The Englishman has proven that he can build a squad capable of competing for trophies and reaching the Champions League, so he deserves the opportunity to be able to do that again.
If he is to depart, it will be difficult to replace him in the current managerial market, and would likely lead to an even greater period of transition for the club. GIVEMESPORT asked ChatGPT who would be an ideal option as the next manager if a change was made, and this was its response:
Unai Emery – Elite tactician, proven in Europe; maximises squad structure.
Rúben Amorim – Clear identity, develops talent, strong pressing system.
Julian Nagelsmann – Innovative, adaptable, fits a long-term elite project.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe looks on Related
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