Eddie Howe faces sack risk as Newcastle crisis deepens
Eddie Howe is at serious risk of being sacked by Newcastle United if the new season starts poorly, analysts warn. After a disappointing 12th-place finish and a summer of player exits and missed transfer targets, former Manchester United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider things could get even worse for Eddie Howe's Newcastle United side. Brown said underperformance usually leads to a manager being moved on, leaving Howe in a "tricky spot" if results slide early.
Key Takeaways
- Mick Brown told Yahoo Sports that poor early results could trigger a managerial change at St James' Park.
- Anthony Gordon and Sandro Tonali have already departed, while Bruno Guimaraes reportedly wants to leave.
- Sean Dyche says Howe's hard-built squad is "coming apart" amid rising player power in the transfer market.
- Gabby Agbonlahor claims Howe may be waiting for a chance to leave rather than fight on at Newcastle.
Why is Eddie Howe under pressure at Newcastle?
Howe enters the new campaign under scrutiny after Newcastle finished 12th last season, well below expectations. Brown told Football Insider that next season "could be even worse," with the squad weakened rather than strengthened after missing out on key transfer targets.
Brown added that Howe will be "under huge pressure" and warned that when results do not go a club's way, "that usually leads to the manager getting sacked." On 14 July, he flagged "big issues" as Howe's squad looked significantly weaker than the previous campaign.
What has gone wrong in Newcastle's transfer window?
The summer has been defined by departures and frustration. Gordon and Tonali are already gone, while captain Bruno Guimaraes wants to leave as rivals circle. Liverpool also hijacked a deal for Spain winger Victor Munoz earlier in the window.
Former Everton boss Sean Dyche told talkSPORT the situation is a "nightmare," saying: "When you see these players and it starts coming apart, that's when it gets really difficult." Dyche also pointed to modern player power, arguing clubs struggle when stars no longer want to stay.
Newcastle have added Sean Steur, Bazoumana Toure and Ewen Jaouen, and are pursuing Freiburg's Johan Manzambi—but the rebuild feels fragile as more exits loom.
Does Eddie Howe want to leave Newcastle United?
Former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor told talkSPORT he believes Howe is "waiting to be... not sacked but like told, 'you know, let's go our separate ways.'" Agbonlahor added: "I don't think personally, he wants to stay at Newcastle."
He argued Newcastle and Howe have "gone as far as they can" under financial fair play constraints, with repeated transfer misses proving "quite embarrassing." Howe has previously insisted he is "100% committed" to the job, telling reporters his commitment "has never wavered."
What happens next for Howe and Newcastle?
The stakes are climbing fast. Brown suggested that if Newcastle perform well below their usual standard early in the campaign, Howe "could be in a tricky spot." Fan frustration is mounting as the club battles to keep its best players while failing to land top targets.
For a club built on long-term ambition, stability matters as much as any trophy push—much like the foundations behind a headline luxury real estate portfolio. Whether Howe survives may hinge on early results and whether Newcastle can stop the exodus before the new season kicks off.