Manchester United co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has reportedly settled on Eddie Howe as his preferred choice to replace Michael Carrick, should the under-pressure manager be sacked. United's 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth extended their winless run to eight matches, intensifying scrutiny over Carrick's future at Old Trafford.
INEOS and Ratcliffe now face a significant decision over the club's managerial direction. Several candidates have been linked with the role, including Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte, as uncertainty around Carrick's position grows.
Ratcliffe leaning towards Howe
According to The i Paper, Ratcliffe is keen to see an English manager at the helm, a preference previously shown in efforts to appoint former England boss Gareth Southgate. Howe's availability as a free agent makes him an appealing option, as he would arrive at minimal expense.
There is reportedly a split among United's board members over the next appointment. Director of football Jason Wilcox is said to favour Howe, while head of recruitment Christopher Vivell is reportedly eager to reunite with former Germany and Bayern Munich manager Nagelsmann. Ratcliffe appears inclined to support Wilcox's preference.
Howe's accomplishments at Newcastle are well documented, notably delivering the club's first major trophy in 70 years. However, questions remain over whether he would receive the same financial backing for his project as he did in the north-east.
Howe to hold firm over coaching appointments
One potential condition for Howe accepting a role at Old Trafford would be bringing his own coaching staff with him. Howe has consistently shown loyalty to those within his trusted circle and has previously rejected opportunities over this matter.
In 2021, Howe was linked with the Celtic position but demanded the right to appoint his own coaching team. Celtic's unwillingness to accommodate this resulted in the proposed appointment falling through.
"I felt that if I was to come into a pressured job like [Celtic], I needed to go in with a sense of stability," he 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."
Howe's former Newcastle assistant, Jason Tindall, has earned a reputation for his animated presence on Premier League touchlines. Tindall previously served alongside Howe at Bournemouth before their reunion at St. James' Park five years ago. Other established members of Howe's Newcastle backroom team include Graeme Jones, Stephen Purches and Simon Weatherstone.
