Eddie Howe has been identified as a serious candidate to replace Michael Carrick as Manchester United manager should the club decide to part ways with their current head coach. The 48-year-old has been out of work since leaving Newcastle United in the summer of 2026, and his track record at both Bournemouth and Newcastle makes him an obvious contender for one of the most high-profile jobs in world football.
Howe's Proven Track Record
Howe's managerial career includes leading Bournemouth from the brink of relegation from League Two in January 2009 to the Premier League in 2015, establishing them as a top-flight club. At Newcastle, appointed in 2021, he guided the team from relegation trouble to Champions League qualification on two occasions and secured the club's first trophy in 56 years with the EFL Cup triumph in 2025. His ability to develop players such as Bruno Guimarães, Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, Alexander Isak, Dan Burn, Lewis Hall and Tino Livramento into internationals is widely noted.
Mixed Reception from Fans and Former Players
The potential appointment has drawn a mixed response. Sections of the Manchester United fanbase have expressed negativity on social media, questioning whether Howe is a big enough name. Former United players Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt did not back Howe on their podcast, though they had supported his candidacy when Ruben Amorim was sacked in January. Conversely, Roy Keane, Darren Bent, Gareth Barry and Jack Wilshere have publicly endorsed Howe as the right man for the job.
Financial Considerations
If Carrick departs, Manchester United would need to settle his contract before factoring in the cost of a new manager. Howe's departure agreement with Newcastle includes a compensation structure that started at £6 million but has already reduced by half. The compensation payments have an expiry date, understood to be before the end of the season, after which he could be appointed for no fee. Given United's recent spending on managerial changes, the hierarchy may be keen to control costs.
Fit Within United's Football Structure
At both Bournemouth and Newcastle, Howe held significant autonomy over recruitment and football operations, delivering profitable player sales and development. Manchester United's current structure includes chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Jason Wilcox and director of recruitment Christopher Vivell, which may limit Howe's immediate control. However, Howe has experience working alongside sporting directors, having done so at Bournemouth under Richard Hughes and Neill Blake, and at Newcastle with Dan Ashworth, Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi.
Decision-Makers' Preferences
According to BBC Sport chief football news reporter Simon Stone, Wilcox is thought to favour Howe, while Vivell prefers former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann. Their recommendations will be assessed by Berrada, with minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co-chairs Joel and Avram Glazer having the final say. The outcome of Saturday's match against Chelsea could influence the timeline for any decision on Carrick's future.
