Newcastle United look set to lose Dan Ashworth to Manchester United, and Jamie Carragher believes there might be more exits on the horizon.
After working so hard to get Dan Ashworth in the first place, the Newcastle hierarchy are braced for his departure.
The 52-year-old appears to be on his way to Manchester United, as the Red Devils prepare to poach a hugely influential figure behind the scenes at St James’ Park.
While the Magpies will recover and find a suitable replacement, it is a big blow to lose Ashworth less than two years after his arrival.
And Jamie Carragher has suggested that Ashworth might not be the only one to leave the Newcastle United project behind.
Jamie Carragher suggests Eddie Howe could also leave Newcastle
Carragher has been speaking about Newcastle United and Ashworth’s impending departure on the latest episode of the Stick To Football podcast.
“I do think Newcastle had such a great season last season but they have almost hit a ceiling a little bit where you’re like ‘oh, how do you make that next jump?’,” he said.
“People will look at some of the players they have got and Dan Ashworth and maybe even Eddie Howe at some point and if Gareth Southgate leaves in the summer, you would imagine the FA would go for Eddie Howe.
“I think that’s a big blow for them. I always feel that Newcastle, huge football club, but they are never going to be Man United. So if Man United come, he is going to go and I think it’s a great appointment.”
Newcastle need to break through this ceiling
Carragher is suggesting that Newcastle have hit a ceiling of what they can achieve right now after qualifying for the Champions League last season.
Since then, there have been lots of rumours about their biggest players leaving St James’ Park as they fail to match last season’s accomplishment. For instance, there is relentless speculation regarding Bruno Guimaraes’ future.
But could Eddie Howe also depart? His stock is higher than it ever has been before. It was high after his work at Bournemouth, but he has now taken his reputation to an even greater level.
That will lead to other job opportunities, and it is hard to argue with Carragher when it comes to England. You have to imagine that Gareth Southgate will leave after the Euros this summer, and Howe will surely be a candidate to replace him.
Like Ashworth going from Newcastle to Man United, that could also be seen as a chance for Howe to take a step up in his career.
Hopefully that does not happen, and Newcastle can eventually burst through this ceiling that Carragher suggests is holding them down.
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