Man Utd given Eddie Howe boost as Newcastle’s due compensation slashed
Manchester United have learned the amount they’ll have to pay to Newcastle United should they appoint Eddie Howe.
After failing to register a win in their last eight games, the Red Devils are expected to part ways with Michael Carrick, especially after suffering embarassing back-to-back defeats to Como (1-4) and Bournemouth (0-3) in the space of four days.
Many expected the official decision to come out on Monday following a meeting between CEO Omar Berrada and Director of Football Jason Wilcox, who were also joined by the club’s minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe via video call.
However, Carrick remains Man Utd’s head coach on Tuesday morning, and he’s expected to handle the next training session.
Man Utd must pay £3m Eddie Howe compensation to Newcastle
According to the Telegraph journalist James Ducker, Carrick is not out of the woods just yet, as the official communication could still arrive in the coming hours. Nevertheless, the 45-year-old will resume his duties as normal in the meantime.
Over the last few days, Howe has been the big favourite to replace the under-fire Man Utd manager, followed by Julian Nagelsmann and Antonio Conte, in this order.
Howe has been unattached since leaving Newcastle in July. At the time, the Geordies agreed to relieve him of his duties at his request, despite the unnatural timing.
However, the Magpies added a clause to protect their interests should Howe decide to join another Premier League club.
But while earlier reports suggest that Newcastle would collect a £6 million compensation, Ducker reveals that the figure has dropped to £3 million.
Is Howe the best candidate for post-Carrick role?
Unfortunately for Man Utd, finding Mr Right has been a perilous mission over the years, and they’re now set for a mid-season managerial change for the third year running.
Based on his exploits at Bournemouth and Newcastle, one could argue that Howe might be the best English manager of his generation. Therefore, his profile suits Ratcliffe and Wilcox’s requirements.
| Howe’s Career Stats | Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points | Points per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth — first spell | 102 | 51 | 17 | 34 | 170 | 1.67 |
| Burnley | 86 | 35 | 17 | 34 | 122 | 1.42 |
| Bournemouth — second spell | 355 | 144 | 75 | 136 | 507 | 1.43 |
| Newcastle United | 231 | 116 | 43 | 72 | 391 | 1.69 |
| Career total | 775 | 346 | 152 | 277 | 1,190 | 1.54 |
However, United’s Head of Recruitment, Christopher Vivell, insists that his old RB Leipzig ally Nagelsmann is better prepared for the role thanks to his tenures at Bayern Munich and the German national team.
But if the club is seeking a proven winner capable of squeezing the best out of this underachieving squad, Conte should be at the very top of the list.
