Manchester United are reportedly preparing to part ways with Michael Carrick and appoint a new manager after a turbulent start to the 2026-27 season.
The Red Devils have won only two games this season, against a newly promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town and FK Sabah from Azerbaijan.
Humiliating defeats to Como and Bournemouth have intensified the pressure on Carrick, forcing INEOS to explore alternative options barely two months into the new campaign.
Former Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has emerged as the leading contender to replace Carrick.
Here are three compelling reasons why appointing the 48-year-old could prove to be the wrong decision.
No experience of managing big club
Howe has managed over 200 games in the Premier League. However, there is an important caveat as that experience has come with Bournemouth, Burnley and Newcastle.
With no disrespect to any of those clubs, the Red Devils operate on an entirely different scale, boasting a richer history, a global fanbase and expectations shaped by decades of success.
Howe deserves credit for winning the Carabao Cup with Newcastle and guiding them back into the Champions League.
That was not enough for Erik ten Hag to keep his job safe at United and Howe would face considerably greater expectations if he took the United job.
Lack of a clear long-term identity
Howe has demonstrated that he can improve teams and implement an organised style of football.
His best Newcastle teams were renowned for their relentless work rate, aggressive pressing and dangerous counter-attacking football, making them difficult opponents for even the biggest clubs in the Premier League.
That will help him secure positive results in the short term, but INEOS will ultimately want him to implement a dominant playing style.
Howe has yet to demonstrate that he can build a dominant, possession-based team capable of controlling matches against elite opposition.
The irony is that United enjoyed success with a counter-attacking approach last season under Carrick, but the former midfielder wanted his team to dominate possession and dictate games.
That shift in philosophy has coincided with a dramatic decline in results.
Issues with board
Heavy investment by the Saudi-backed ownership into Newcastle helped Howe to bring good players at the club.
He further improved them but many of those stars were allowed to leave over the past 12 months. Bruno Guimaraes, Sandro Tonali, Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak are at the top of that list.
He disagreed with those decisions and ultimately submitted his resignation in July after seeing the right resources are not present in the squad to take the next step.
Howe would undoubtedly face further clashes with the current United board.
Stats from Fotmob.com