Manchester United could be forced to pay a substantial compensation fee to appoint Eddie Howe as Michael Carrick's successor at Old Trafford, with the former Newcastle United manager emerging as the frontrunner for the role.
Howe has become the leading candidate to take charge, with Carrick's position under major threat following Sunday's 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth. United sit 16th in the Premier League and have gone eight games without a win in all competitions.
Howe backed by United hierarchy
United's director of football, Jason Wilcox, is said to be pushing for Howe's appointment. Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe is also understood to back the Englishman ahead of other contenders, including Julian Nagelsmann, Antonio Conte and Fabian Hurzeler, should the club decide to part with Carrick. Howe is believed to be open to the move.
However, securing their top target may prove difficult. According to Chronicle Live, Newcastle would be due compensation should Howe return to management, with a 'significant payout' potentially required given the time remaining on his contract at St James' Park.
Cost of a managerial change
Howe was reportedly earning around £6 million annually and signed a multi-year deal in summer 2024, meaning any settlement could reach several million pounds. Newcastle could receive a considerable sum, especially after allowing members of Howe's backroom staff, including Jason Tindall, Stephen Purches and Simon Weatherstone, to leave with him.
Such expenditure would add to the amounts United have already paid on managerial exits. The club faced a net severance bill of £8.2 million following the early departure of Ruben Amorim and his coaching team.
Decision expected before Chelsea clash
United's head of recruitment, Christopher Vivell, is said to favour Nagelsmann, who has been available since stepping down as Germany manager in the summer. However, Ratcliffe is expected to have the final say and is understood to prefer an English appointment, with The Sun reporting the INEOS tycoon is eager for a homegrown boss.
Should United make a formal approach for Howe, they would likely also need to negotiate deals with his backroom team, including assistant manager Tindall, first-team coaches Purches and Weatherstone, and sports scientist Dan Hodges, all of whom have worked with him at Bournemouth and Newcastle.
