Claims that Eddie Howe will be sacked by Newcastle United are gathering pace – and now reports in Spain claim the Magpies have already identified Girona boss Michel as his successor.
Howe has done a remarkable job since stepping into the Newcastle hotseat back in November 2021 with the club firmly entrenched in a relegation dogfight at the time. However, with the financial backing of new owners, PIF, Howe has helped transform the club, guiding them to a 11th-placed finish in 2022, before leading them to fourth – and a spot in the Champions League – a year later.
The 2023/23 campaign, though, has seen the Magpies suffer their first real blip under Howe. With a spate of injuries tearing through their squad, Newcastle have suffered defeat in eight of their last nine games (drawing the other, but going out on penalties to Chelsea in the Carabao Cup) to tumble down the Premier League and suffer the disappointment of finishing bottom of their Champions League group.
As a result, talk that he’s facing the sack at Newcastle has started to rear its head with a source recently revealing Howe was in a ‘precarious position’ and facing a three-game run of games that would determine his future.
Furthermore, with the shadow of Jose Mourinho seemingly lurking over Howe and with the Portuguese firebrand regularly linked with the hotseat at St James’ Park, there is a growing school of thought that suggests the 46-year-old Englishman is on borrowed time in the North-East.
Now reports of his apparent demise are starting to gather some serious pace and Spanish publication Marca claims Newcastle are ‘looking very seriously’ at dismissing Howe and moving to appoint Girona coach Michel as his successor.
Howe sack talk grows as Newcastle eye Michel
The Barcelona-based club are causing a storm in Spain, sitting joint-top of LaLiga alongside Real Madrid and some 10 points clear of reigning champions Barcelona, as well as Atletico Madrid.
Their progress has been all the more remarkable given they only finished 10th last season, their first season back in the top flight after earning promotion in May 2022.
Talk that they could end the Real, Barca, Atletico title stranglehold is electrifying Spanish audiences, with no side since Valencia in 2004 breaking the big three’s domination.
As a result, it’s no surprise to see a series of their players attracting admiring glances.
However, their biggest asset is arguably boss Michel, who has already been tipped to replace Pep Guardiola at Manchester City when the legendary coach decides to call it a day.
Now though it is Newcastle being linked with Marca writing: ‘The interest of Europe’s powerful teams is not only in the players. Michel has caught on. And the Spanish coach even more so.
‘Newcastle are looking very seriously at the option of putting the Magpies project in the hands of the Girona coach. In the Premier Arteta, Guardiola, Emery and Iraola himself are doing things at a high level and the Spanish coach is in demand.’
Strong voice comes out in support of Howe
Whether that transpires into a firm offer from Newcastle remains to be seen, though Howe will undoubtedly need a positive result when they tackle arch-rivals Sunderland in an eagerly-awaited FA Cup third-round clash at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.