Shearer weighs in as Howe linked with Manchester United job

The big talking point around Newcastle United this week isn't about results on the pitch, but speculation over Eddie Howe's future, with the former Magpies manager being strongly linked with the vacant Manchester United job.

Newcastle World reports that Alan Shearer has made a claim about Eddie Howe and Manchester United that is likely to split opinion among Newcastle supporters, with Howe currently the bookmakers' favourite to succeed Michael Carrick at Old Trafford (Newcastle World). Chronicle Live goes further, reporting that Shearer has actually cast doubt over the Howe to Manchester United links, giving one key reason why he isn't convinced it will happen, despite the pressure growing on Carrick (Chronicle Live).

Meanwhile, The Mag strikes a different tone, reporting via Sky Sports sources that Howe is "now interested" in speaking to Manchester United, with Carrick set to be sacked (The Mag). This suggests a shift in the situation, with The Mag's report indicating Howe's stance may have changed as the possibility of the United job opening up becomes more concrete.

There's a clear tension between the outlets here: Newcastle World and Chronicle Live both draw on Shearer's scepticism, with Chronicle Live specifically noting a "key reason" for his doubt, while The Mag's report points towards genuine interest from Howe's side. It isn't clear from the snippets whether these reports can be reconciled, but together they paint a picture of a situation that is very much live and being watched closely by those close to Newcastle.

Elsewhere, Newcastle World also touches on Shearer's reaction to a recent away performance, describing his verdict as "awful" following what's called a "much needed" win at Crystal Palace under Matthias Jaissle (Newcastle World). That snippet is separate from the Howe transfer talk but shows Shearer has been a busy pundit on all things Newcastle this week.

For now, nothing is confirmed, and fans will have to wait to see whether the noise around Howe and Manchester United amounts to anything concrete, or whether Shearer's doubts prove well-founded.

Written with the help of AI, using the headlines from the publishers credited above. Each point links to the original report — tap the source name to read it in full.