Eddie Howe has no intention of joining a mid-table Premier League club when he returns to the managerial world for the first time since leaving Newcastle United.
According to an update from Mick Brown on Football Insider, Eddie Howe has set his sights on a “loftier goal” instead of joining Crystal Palace, Everton, or Fulham. Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, and the England national team are on the former Newcastle United manager’s radar, and only a big move will lure him back to work.
Eddie Howe and his managerial journey so far
Eddie Howe has been one of the most revered young managers in the Premier League for nearly a decade. The Englishman went under the radar during his time as a footballer and spent most of his playing days with Bournemouth. He then entered the managerial sphere in 2008, joining Bournemouth as the head coach and spending three years at the Vitality Stadium.
After a short spell with Burnley, Howe returned to Bournemouth, with this spell bringing him into the spotlight due to his team’s heroics in the Premier League. The 48-year-old left Bournemouth in 2020 before taking his next job at Newcastle United in 2021.
The English tactician made his mark at St. James’ Park, taking the club to the UEFA Champions League multiple times while winning the EFL Cup in the 2024/25 season, having taken over with the team in the relegation zone. However, after an underwhelming 2025/26 campaign and mounting tensions behind the scenes, Howe called time on his stint with Newcastle over the summer.
What next?
Reports immediately after Eddie Howe’s departure from Newcastle United suggested that he would take a break from management. In the meantime, links with many Premier League clubs have emerged, with Crystal Palace showing an interest due to the team’s struggles in the early days of Pierre Sage’s reign.
While the French tactician arrived at Selhurst Park with lofty expectations after an impressive 2025/26 campaign with RC Lens, the Eagles are 15th in the Premier League standings after managing only seven points in seven outings and conceding multiple goals. A similar situation is brewing at Fulham, with new manager Alvaro Arbeloa struggling to steer the ship after replacing Marco Silva.
While the Cottagers notched up their first win of the 2026/27 Premier League season this past weekend, they remain in the relegation zone. The situation is different at Everton, where David Moyes’s expiring contract may lead to a managerial change. Amid uncertainty at the Merseyside club due to a potential shift in ownership, the Scotsman’s future is unclear.
While Howe is an appealing target due to his Premier League know-how, his eagerness to join a bigger club will force Everton, Crystal Palace, and Fulham to look elsewhere. Recent reports have linked the former Newcastle United manager with Manchester United and the England job, both possibilities that would appeal to him, along with Tottenham.