Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has suggested Chelsea should target Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe if he becomes available this summer. The former Arsenal player made the comments amid ongoing speculation over the managerial vacancy at Stamford Bridge, where academy coach Calum McFarlane is in interim charge until the end of the season following the sacking of Liam Rosenior.
Merson, speaking on Sky Sports, stated that clubs would be "queueing up around the corner" for Howe should he leave St James' Park. He directly linked the 48-year-old to the Chelsea post, saying, "Chelsea would take him tomorrow morning, you’d like to think so wouldn’t you? In my opinion, they’d take him all day long." Merson also tipped Howe as a future England manager.
The comments come at a time of uncertainty for both clubs. Chelsea dismissed Rosenior after just 106 days in charge, with the club having won only 11 of his 23 matches. According to sources, the club is considering a six-man shortlist for the permanent role, with current Premier League managers Andoni Iraola of Bournemouth and Fulham's Marco Silva also believed to be under consideration.
Howe's position at Newcastle has come under scrutiny following a difficult season. After guiding the Magpies to a fifth-place finish and winning the Carabao Cup last season, the club currently sits 14th in the Premier League table, just eight points above the relegation zone following a recent defeat to Arsenal. Howe himself admitted that end-of-season talks with the Newcastle hierarchy would be "slightly harder" this year.
Fellow pundit Jamie Redknapp echoed the sentiment that Howe has earned the right to decide his own future. "I think Eddie has done enough to decide whatever he wants at the club," Redknapp said on Sky Sports. He suggested there might come a point where Howe feels he has taken the current squad as far as he can, noting that "the performances haven’t been acceptable" this season.
Howe's potential availability would represent a significant opportunity for Chelsea, who are seeking a proven Premier League manager to instil stability. His work in transforming Newcastle's playing style and achieving European qualification last season aligns with Chelsea's ambitions of returning to the top tier of English and European football. For Newcastle, losing Howe would mark the end of a transformative era that saw the club win its first major trophy in decades and re-establish itself in the top half of the table, prior to this season's struggles.
The situation remains fluid, with no official approach from Chelsea and Howe still under contract at Newcastle. Any move would likely involve significant compensation, given Howe's long-term deal, and would be contingent on Newcastle's own end-of-season review. The coming weeks are expected to bring clarity to both clubs' managerial plans as the summer transfer window approaches.
