“I’d take Eddie Howe” - Paul Merson makes case for Chelsea move

Paul Merson has doubled down on comments he made after Newcastle United's defeat to Arsenal on Saturday.

The ex-Arsenal forward was on pundit duty at the Emirates for Sky Sports on Saturday, and at full-time, he urged Newcastle fans to be careful what they wish for when it comes to wanting Eddie Howe to be sacked amid the club's run of poor form.

Merson would go on to say that if Newcastle were to let Howe go, big clubs would be queueing up to take him as their manager, citing Chelsea as the perfect example.

Speaking on Sky Sports on Monday about who should take over as Chelsea boss, Merson threw out Eddie Howe's name as a suggestion.

Paul Merson would take Eddie Howe at Chelsea

Chelsea are on their sixtieth manager in the last three years after sacking the atrocious Liam Rosenior, and with some fans trying to hound out Eddie Howe, Paul Merson has offered up the Blues as an escape route for the 48-year-old.

"Who would I like? I mean, I hear from Newcastle, not all Newcastle fans, a few Newcastle fans, about him being under pressure, Eddie Howe. I'd take Eddie Howe."

Merson went on from there to explain why a 'top top' manager wouldn't take the job, and they'd have to look for a manager who would 'be grateful to be manager of Chelsea'.

Eddie Howe wouldn't go to Chelsea right now

With all due respect, we don't see Eddie Howe as being a manager who'd be grateful to be the Chelsea manager. He may not be in the same echelons of past Chelsea managers like Jose Mourinho (in his day), Carlo Ancelotti or Thomas Tuchel, but he's far too clever to blindly walk into that football club.

Eddie Howe has done brilliantly at Newcastle with so much going on behind the scenes that could be deemed disruptive. Just as things are starting to level out for him with a new CEO and sporting director in place, he's not going to want to pack that in and go to Chelsea, where they change managers every other week.

Even if you're firmly in the Howe Out camp and question everything he's done of late, you have to agree that while Chelsea may have a squad full of stars, the way that club is run would be a backward step for Eddie Howe right now.