Eddie Howe Linked to Manchester United Job Amidst Carrick's Struggles

Eddie Howe has barely been out of the game a few months, but his name is already circling around one of the most pressurised jobs in football.

The former Newcastle United manager, who walked away from St James’ Park in stunning fashion midway through preseason, is understood to be open to an approach from Manchester United if the Old Trafford hierarchy decide to sack Michael Carrick after a stuttering start to the campaign.

Howe waits, United waver

Indy Kaila reported on Thursday that Manchester United’s owners are growing restless with the team’s form and are prepared to act if results do not improve. The report states that Howe, currently unemployed after his abrupt exit from Newcastle, would be willing to listen if United make formal contact.

“Manchester United prepared to act if poor form continues; Eddie Howe understood to be open to approach,” Kaila posted on X, capturing the mood around a club that has yet to convince this season and has already stumbled in domestic cup competition.

For now, Carrick remains in charge. There is no vacancy, no official search, no statement. But the tone around Old Trafford is shifting. An unconvincing start, early cup struggles, and the sense of a campaign already drifting have left the club’s ownership increasingly impatient, according to the same report.

The message from those briefed on the situation is blunt: if this run continues, the dugout could change quickly.

From Newcastle rebuild to Old Trafford spotlight?

Howe’s availability makes him an obvious name to surface. He took over Newcastle in late 2021 with the club staring at a relegation fight and turned them into regular contenders for European places. Under his watch, the Magpies surged up the table, re-established themselves on the continental map, and finally ended a long wait for a domestic trophy.

His departure this summer shocked many inside and outside the club. It cleared the path for Matthias Jaissle, who has begun to reshape Newcastle around a heavily altered squad after a series of high-profile departures and arrivals.

Now, only months after leaving Tyneside, Howe is being linked with a return straight back into the Premier League pressure cooker. The report claims he would be “willing to take charge at Old Trafford if formally approached,” a move that would place him immediately back under the brightest lights, with Manchester United competing in the Champions League this season.

The question is no longer whether Howe is ready for a job of that size. He proved at Newcastle that he can rebuild, organise, and elevate a club with expectations and scrutiny. The real question is whether Manchester United are ready to pull the trigger on Carrick – and how quickly they might move if their form slides any further.