Eddie Howe could demand to bring his entire backroom team with him if he is approached by Manchester United. The former Newcastle boss has emerged as a leading contender to replace Michael Carrick, whose position is under serious threat following United's 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth on Sunday.
The result left United 16th in the Premier League and extended their winless run in all competitions to eight matches, following a 4-1 Champions League defeat by Como four days earlier.
Howe Leading Candidate
According to talkSPORT, United technical director Jason Wilcox is "leaning towards" Howe as club chiefs consider their next managerial appointment, ahead of alternatives including Antonio Conte and Julian Nagelsmann.
But luring the out-of-work 48-year-old to Old Trafford could hinge on whether United are prepared to accommodate his demands behind the scenes.
Howe, who stepped down as Newcastle boss after five years in July, has been adamant when it comes to insisting on having his own people around him. A proposed move to Celtic collapsed in 2021 after the two parties failed to agree terms for his backroom staff.
Howe's Staff Demands
"I felt that if I was to come into a pressured job like [Celtic], I needed to go in with a sense of stability," Howe told The Athletic in 2022.
"I could have recruited new staff, but then you're working each other out and there's a transition process where it probably takes three, four, five months. That's five months too late. I needed my staff with me and we couldn't get them together."
Should United make a formal approach, they could therefore be expected to negotiate deals for Howe's trusted lieutenants, including assistant Jason Tindall, first team coaches Stephen Purches and Simon Weatherstone, and sports scientist Dan Hodges. All four have worked alongside Howe at both Bournemouth and Newcastle.
United's Coaching Setup
United already have a sizeable coaching contingent in place, with Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate, Jonny Evans, Travis Binnion and Craig Mawson among the five members of staff Carrick brought in when he took charge as interim head coach in January.
Whether those coaches would depart alongside Carrick or remain at Old Trafford is unclear. However, their futures could determine how much room there is for Howe to install his own team.
United have previously shown a willingness to accommodate a new manager's preferred staff, allowing Ruben Amorim to bring five members of his backroom team from Sporting CP when he took charge in 2024. If Howe is their preferred candidate, they may have little choice but to offer him similar assurances.
If Carrick survives the week, his next test comes against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Another defeat would leave United with four losses in five games and pile further pressure on the former midfielder, whose position could become untenable.
