“The name on everyone’s mind” — Newcastle United ready Howe replacement

Newcastle United owners are ambitious with the club, and according to new reports, they may be gearing to move on from current manager, Eddie Howe with a surprise name in sight.

According to news from Spain, Girona manager Michel Sanchez is listed as a potential candidate to replace Eddie Howe in the job.

Eddie Howe’s initial success, guiding Newcastle United to a commendable Carabao Cup victory and a fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season marking the club’s return to the Champions League after a two-decade hiatus was overshadowed by a swift exit from European competition.

The Magpies concluded their Champions League campaign at the bottom of a challenging group comprising Paris Saint-Germain, Borussia Dortmund, and AC Milan. Their Carabao Cup journey also ended in the quarter-finals against Chelsea.

Newcastle United also suffered a 4-2 humiliation at Anfield last Monday to mark the new year under Eddie Howe’s management.

Newcastle’s fortunes have taken a sharp downturn amid an injury crisis, evidenced by a dismal run of seven defeats in eight matches across all competitions leading into the New Year.

Recent struggles in the Premier League, with four losses in their last five matches, have seen the club slide to ninth place, a considerable 11 points adrift of Champions League contention.

These circumstances have cast doubts on Howe’s tenure at St James’ Park, prompting Newcastle’s owners to explore potential alternatives.

Marca’s report indicates a strong interest in Girona’s Michel Sanchez, whose managerial achievements in La Liga have caught the attention of top clubs across Europe.

Sanchez, instrumental in Girona’s promotion to La Liga in his debut season in charge, subsequently steered the Catalan side to a respectable 10th-place finish last term.

However, Girona’s remarkable performance this season, sitting level on points with Real Madrid at the La Liga summit, has amplified interest in the manager’s services.

The report suggests that Michel’s exceptional success with Girona has drawn attention from elite clubs, with Barcelona reportedly considering him as a potential replacement for Xavi.

Additionally, given Girona’s ownership ties to Manchester City’s holding company, there’s speculation that Michel could be a logical successor to Pep Guardiola.