Alan Shearer's message to Eddie Howe as Man Utd talk intensifies
Alan Shearer has had his say on speculation linking Eddie Howe with the Manchester United job, admitting he is unsure whether the former Newcastle boss would be able to turn things around at Old Trafford.
Our former No.9 praised Howe’s achievements on Tyneside but also questioned whether the 48-year-old would have enough control at Man United, while highlighting the challenges that come with taking charge of the club.
Shearer on Howe’s potential Man Utd move
Speaking about the links, Shearer acknowledged the appeal of Manchester United but suggested there are several factors Howe would need to consider, including the compensation Newcastle would be entitled to and the level of control he would have.
“I don’t know if Eddie Howe would go in and turn it around at Manchester United, also they would still have to compensate Newcastle.
“Newcastle would still have a say because with the time left on his contract. Eddie does like control. So, whether he would get enough of that, I don’t know. But it’s Manchester United.”
Shearer was also keen to recognise the outstanding job Howe did at Newcastle, taking us from a relegation battle to Champions League football before ending the club’s long wait for a major domestic trophy.
“I feel uncomfortable when someone’s in a job talking about someone else, but he was Newcastle’s most successful manager in my time and he did an unbelievable job at Newcastle, dragging us out of the relegation zone into great Champions League nights and obviously delivering that trophy.
“So, he’s a highly talented coach and manager, but we’ve seen many of those go into Man United and fail.”
Shearer warns of the challenge awaiting Howe
Asked whether he would offer Howe any advice, Shearer admitted he would find it difficult to make that decision for him, recognising the huge pull of Manchester United while also questioning the way the club is run.
“I couldn’t give Eddie Howe any advice. I know the size of the football club and the football team are very different to what it was 20 or 30 years ago.
“So, I understand the pull of that still. I also look at it logically, and know it’s a really, really tough task going in there with how they are being run.”
There is little doubt that Manchester United remains one of the biggest jobs in world football, but Shearer’s comments underline the scale of the challenge Howe could face if he were to leave Newcastle for Old Trafford.
