Newcastle United fans’ reaction to Jose Mourinho links speaks volumes about where the club is at

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Newcastle United fans have had plenty to say on a report which claims Jose Mourinho is targeting the Magpies job, if Eddie Howe were to leave the club.

According to the Guardian, Mourinho has ’reached out’ to intermediaries in order to kept up to speed with any developments at St James’ Park, with the 61-year-old believing he has ‘unfinished business’ in the Premier League.

Mourinho is currently in charge of Turkish side Fenerbahce, but launched a rant against refereeing and Turkish football in general last weekend, claiming that ‘nobody abroad wants to watch the Turkish league’.

This report has been issued on the day of Eddie Howe’s third anniversary in charge of the club and while few Magpies fans believe that they will see the former Chelsea and Manchester United boss replace Howe anytime soon, it has provoked plenty of debate online.

Fans have their say on Mourinho links

Talk of the three-time Premier League winner’s desire to return to English football with Newcastle was seen as a ‘step back’ by one fan”, as the general reaction among fans gave a telling indication as to where the club is a whole.

“I’ve always had respect for Jose but it’s an easy pass for me, they posted. “No disrespect towards the Turkish league but there’s a reason he’s there. In my opinion it’s a step back if we go in that direction.”

This was echoed by another supporter, who posted on X that: “Football had moved on & left Jose behind …… good manager , but bad for business, NUFC works better with ‘no noise’ and less headlines … the owners will want positive PR, instead of reading what Jose has said, or seeing how he’s acted during a game.”

• READ MORE: What Newcastle’s board have tasked Eddie Howe with doing this season amid Jose Mourinho links

Other found the prospect of Mourinho in the north east slightly more palatable, but it is clear that few of the Magpies fanbase would see the Portuguese as an upgrade on what they have with Howe.

“Would rather keep Eddie Howe but IF and big IF he was to go Mourinho would be the first name on the list,” another posted.

“It would be a romantic destiny like appointment and would be complete box office for the 1.5 seasons it will last.”

“Heart says yes, head says no,” was another simple response.

Howe is unlikely to be distracted by this noise and will instead focus on getting his fourth year with the club off to a winning start when he takes his team to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest on Sunday afternoon.