Jose Mourinho is reportedly interested in taking over at Newcastle United if Eddie Howe were to leave St James’ Park. Currently managing Fenerbahce, Mourinho recently hinted at wanting to return to the Premier League, and his dissatisfaction with his current situation in Turkey surfaced after Fenerbahce’s recent 3-2 victory over Trabzonspor.
Sources from The Guardian indicate that Mourinho has asked intermediaries to keep him informed of any changes at Newcastle. He also established a connection with Newcastle’s chairman, Yasir al-Rumayyan, whom he met socially during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in March.
In a recent interview after visiting Manchester United, Mourinho expressed that he would like his next move in England to be with a club not participating in UEFA competitions. “After Fenerbahce, I’d be open to coaching a team in England that’s facing challenges, maybe in a couple of years,” he said, declining to go into further detail.
Although Howe has bolstered his position with Newcastle’s recent wins over Chelsea and Arsenal, there is still pressure from ownership to secure Champions League qualification. Howe’s support structure has also shifted, with key backers Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi stepping back, and reports suggest some friction with sporting director Paul Mitchell, who came on board in July.
Reflecting on Newcastle’s progress, Howe expressed his commitment to the club’s future: “I’m proud of what we’ve achieved, but there’s more to strive for. Winning a trophy remains our ultimate goal, and returning to European competition is a major objective this season.”
