Who Could Be Next in the Newcastle Hotseat? The Managerial Contenders After Howe

Eddie Howe insists he can still salvage the situation at Newcastle, but a disastrous summer transfer window and an increasingly grim run of results suggest his tenure on Tyneside is hanging by a thread. Saturday's fourth consecutive Premier League loss to Arsenal has only intensified the pressure, leaving many wondering: when—not if—Newcastle make a change, who comes next?

The betting markets have their say, and the list of potential candidates ranges from the realistic to the frankly fanciful. Here's where the smart money sits:

The Outsiders (10=)

A veritable alphabet soup of possibilities: Adi Hutter, Thomas Tuchel, Luis Enrique, Edin Terzic, Cesc Fabregas, Mauricio Pochettino, Kim Hellberg, and Marco Rose all find themselves lumped together in the "it could happen" category. Essentially, if he's managed a football team, he's apparently in the conversation.

Gareth Southgate (8=)

Forever lurking in the hypothetical running for every Premier League vacancy, despite there being absolutely zero evidence the former England boss has any desire to return to club management.

Frank Lampard (8=)

His impressive work with Coventry has somehow made him fashionable again for the bigger jobs, which is rather remarkable considering the Chelsea shambles. Still, there's something intriguing about the prospect.

Kieran McKenna (7)

Now here's a genuinely interesting candidate. McKenna has the makings of a manager who could flourish at a top club, and you'd love to see a big side roll the dice on him. The problem? Newcastle aren't in a position to afford massive gambles right now, and this would undoubtedly be one. Shame, really, because it could be something special.

Xavi (6)

The Barcelona legend ticks the "statement of intent" box nicely, should Newcastle somehow convince him to dust off his coaching boots again.

Marco Silva (5)

The burning question: can Silva manage anyone other than Fulham? We rather suspect he can't—and won't.

Roberto Mancini (4)

If the target is winning the Premier League title by 2030, you could do worse than a man who's already won it.

Oliver Glasner (3)

Crystal Palace's manager has kept his reputation remarkably intact despite having his best players stripped away. Should the Eagles improve between now and season's end, he'll be firmly in the frame for a job of this stature.

Andoni Iraola (1=)

Bournemouth's manager is doing excellent work on the south coast, and it feels inevitable that a club with deeper pockets will come calling soon. Newcastle could be ideal—they might even have made preliminary enquiries after Bournemouth's recent victory at St James' Park. Chelsea, however, are also keen admirers, and their allure is considerable.

Jose Mourinho (1=)

This one has felt written in the stars for ages. Mourinho calls himself a "little Magpie," having developed a genuine affinity with Newcastle through his long-standing bond with Sir Bobby Robson. His personality would be a complete departure from Howe's measured approach—which might be precisely what the club needs. For Mourinho, it's either Newcastle or, it seems, Real Madrid. Either way, he won't be short of options.