Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe was involved in a bizarre rumour which questioned his future at the football club.
The 47-year-old has just completed the Magpies’ best season in living memory, which saw them win the Carabao Cup and secure Champions League qualification on the final day of the Premier League season.
Eddie Howe deserves a statue outside of St James’ Park for the phenomenal work he has done at Newcastle United since joining in 2021.
While Howe is being praised for his work at Newcastle, a bizarre rumour emerged on Saturday which put his future at the club into question. It was reported that Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi had discussions with Newcastle as his future at the Italian giants looks surprisingly bleak.
The rumour comes as a shock to many, but it was noted that the discussions are likely to have come before the Carabao Cup win and Champions League qualification.
With the news now out that Newcastle held talks with Inzaghi, we look back at what club CEO Darren Eales said about Howe when his future was in doubt in 2024.
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Darren Eales always backed Eddie Howe at Newcastle United
During pre-season, ahead of the 2024/25 season, the England job was available, and reports were circling that the FA wanted Howe to fill the vacant position.
Howe was top of the FA’s list for the England job, but the Toon boss was adamant that he was happy at Newcastle and was not interested in leaving for England.
In the end, Howe stayed at Newcastle, and the rest is history.
Despite the Inzaghi talks, Newcastle CEO Eales has already shared that Howe has his full backing and the support of the PIF and the Reuben brothers.
Speaking to BBC Sport in 2024 while Howe was being linked with the England job, Eales said: “It is that speculation. Obviously Eddie has been an amazing manager for the club, he’s committed to the club with the work that he’s done and what he’s shown,”
“We’re obviously committed to him. He had a multi-year extension last summer and we’re on an exciting journey. As far as we’re concerned, Eddie is the man to lead us on that.”
“The first thing to say is that in any organisation if you are performing well there will be speculation from other clubs. But Eddie is under a long-term contract with the club.
“You see him, he loves the day to day of club football and we have an exciting project here in terms of the commitment from the ownership and the journey we want to go on. We are really excited about this season ahead.”
When pushed further on whether he would fight to keep Howe should there be an approach from the FA, Eales added: “Yes, absolutely.
“He is exactly the right man for the project we are on at Newcastle United and that is why we are committed to a long-term deal with him. That’s why we think he’s the right man for Newcastle. We love him.”
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How long is Eddie Howe contracted to Newcastle United for?
With Howe being given the public backing of Newcastle chiefs, fans will be pleased to know that Howe is contracted to stay on Tyneside for another three years.
Howe signed a contract extension in 2023, keeping him at the club until 2028 and giving him plenty of time to bring more success to Tyneside.
According to a report from the Telegraph in March, Howe, his wife and children are all loving life in the North East and that Howe will be receptive if the club looks to offer him a new deal in the future.
The report adds that Howe could be given a new contract this summer once Newcastle chiefs sit back and reflect on the season.
Eales is set to leave Newcastle when a new CEO is appointed, so giving Howe a new deal could be one of his final acts before departing.
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