Jose Mourinho has admirers among the Newcastle hierarchy if they part company with Eddie Howe, eSPORTY understands.
Newcastle’s Saudi owners are believed to be attracted to the idea of appointing a big-name in the event Howe departs.
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Former Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is another likely to come into any conversation.
Outgoing Bournemouth manager Andoni Iraola would also be open to a move to St James Park should a vacancy arise.
Howe has come under pressure from fans following Newcastle’s poor run of form, but retains the support of the club hierarchy.
As previously reported by eSPORTY, the former Bournemouth boss could opt to walk away if he feels he has taken the club as far as he can.
Newcastle face an uncertain summer with several potential high-profile departures including Sandro Tonali and Tino Livramento.
Anthony Gordon is also attracting interest from German giants Bayern Munich and Arsenal.
Sources have indicated to eSPORTY that the Magpies may be forced to sell to bring in new signings.
Mourinho is also expected to be a leading candidate for Portugal after the World Cup with Roberto Martinez likely to depart.
The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham manager is currently in charge of Benfica.
Fan favourite?
Speaking on this week’s episode of Inside the Toon, The Sun’s head of sport and Sunday edition co-host Shaun Custis, who supports Newcastle, backed Mourinho for the job.
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“I still feel that would be the best appointment for building the club up,” Custis said.
“He won European trophies at Roma, and he won a European trophy at Manchester United.
“What is the risk? We have been relegated, and it has been 100 years since we last won the top-flight. It’s not going to destroy the club.
“It puts Newcastle United where we want to be and recognised around the world.”
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The Portuguese manager always kept the door open for a potential Premier League comeback.
A return to the English top flight would make Newcastle his twelfth club of his managerial career.
His first stint came with Chelsea, where he won back-to-back league titles in his opening two seasons.
He left in 2007 but returned seven years later to lift a third domestic title at Stamford Bridge.
Mourinho coached Manchester United from 2016 to 2018, winning the Europa League and the League Cup in his first season before finishing second in the Premier League the following year.
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The former Champions League winner was sacked in December 2018, halfway through his third season at the club.
TalkSPORT’s Jack Cunningham argued despite the Portuguese’s success in England, that he would not be the right fit for the Magpies.
He said: “I get the idea behind it because he’s a big name but his last two jobs have been in Turkey and Portugal. Also, I wouldn’t say he did a great job at Spurs the last time he was in the Premier League.
“I just don’t believe Mourinho is at that level anymore. In the Premier League, there are so many more tactical managers than him.
“Yes, he is a big name. Yes, there would be blockbuster press conferences. Yes, it would be a wild, roller coaster ride which might even end up with a trophy. But would the club be in a worse state when he leaves than when he joined, probably.
“I do believe he would attract big players but for a lot of the players who are currently here, the younger ones, it will ruin them. It would be like throwing a bomb in their dressing room and it blowing up.”
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However, Charlotte Robson flirted with the idea, suggesting that a short-term impact might be exactly what the club needs. She said: “I don’t think he gives himself very long as a manager, but maybe we don’t need him to stay long term.
“Maybe we just need two great years with one and then he leaves, and we’re in a slightly better position than we’re in now. I think that’s normal in the modern game.
“It depends what we are looking for. Is it someone who wants to kick on in Europe or who wants to stay longer?
“I’m sure the board understands what they want from a managerial profile. Eddie Howe has worked for Newcastle because he’s so risk-averse, but that’s not working anymore, so maybe we do need to put some more coal in the fire.”
