Eddie Howe has emerged as a leading candidate to take charge of Manchester United, should the club part ways with current manager Michael Carrick. Sources close to the club indicate that United's hierarchy are seriously weighing the merits of the 48-year-old, who departed Newcastle United in the summer.

A proven track record

Those who have worked alongside Howe consistently point to his ability to improve players through a demanding training methodology and his commitment to building a winning culture from the ground up. His record across two clubs stands as compelling evidence of that philosophy in action.

Howe took charge of Bournemouth in January 2009 with the club teetering on the edge of relegation from League Two. He guided them all the way to the Premier League by 2015, establishing the Cherries as a top-flight outfit before departing for a second time in 2020.

At Newcastle United, he inherited a side in serious relegation danger in 2021 and transformed them into a UEFA Champions League qualifier — achieving that feat on two separate occasions. He also led the club to EFL Cup glory in 2025, ending a 56-year wait for silverware at St. James' Park.

Mixed reception from the United camp

Howe's potential appointment has not been universally welcomed. Sections of Manchester United's support have voiced scepticism on social media, arguing he does not carry sufficient stature for the role. Former players Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt stopped short of full endorsement on their podcast, though both had spoken positively about Howe when Ruben Amorim was sacked in January.

Former United captain Roy Keane is among those who have backed Howe, with ex-professionals Darren Bent, Gareth Barry, and Jack Wilshere also lending their support to his candidacy.

The final decision will rest with chief executive Omar Berrada, sporting director Jason Wilcox, and director of recruitment Christopher Vivell — with minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe and co-chairs Joel and Avram Glazer holding the ultimate authority. Wilcox is understood to favour Howe, while Vivell is reported to prefer former Bayern Munich and Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann.

The compensation question

Should Carrick leave Old Trafford, finances will be a significant factor in any appointment. BBC Sport understands that Newcastle United secured a compensation agreement when Howe departed, structured to decrease over time. The fee is understood to have started at £6 million and has since halved. Crucially, that compensation arrangement carries an expiry date — understood to fall before the end of the current season — after which Howe could be appointed without any fee.

While a maximum outlay of £3m may be manageable by modern football standards, United's decision-makers are acutely aware of the enormous sums the club has spent on managerial changes in recent years.

Fitting into United's structure

One question surrounding a potential Howe appointment concerns how he would operate within United's existing management framework. At both Bournemouth and Newcastle, he wielded considerable influence over recruitment — and that approach proved financially rewarding for both clubs. Players such as Nathan Ake, Callum Wilson, and Tyrone Mings were signed and later sold at a profit under his stewardship at Bournemouth. At Newcastle, his involvement in securing Bruno Guimarares, Anthony Gordon, Sandro Tonali, and Alexander Isak yielded similar returns, while Dan Burn, Lewis Hall, and Tino Livramento developed into full England internationals under his coaching.

With Berrada, Wilcox, and Vivell already in place at Old Trafford, Howe would likely operate with less autonomy — at least initially. However, he has previously stated his willingness to work alongside sporting directors, having done so at Bournemouth under Richard Hughes and Neill Blake, and at Newcastle alongside Dan Ashworth, Amanda Staveley, and Mehrdad Ghodoussi.

The club's next move may hinge on Saturday's result against Chelsea. Whatever United decide, the identity of their next manager will signal clearly which direction the club intends to take — and whether the rebuilding project at Old Trafford is finally moving in the right direction.