Mourinho ‘genuine contender’ for Premier League return after telling comments

Jose Mourinho has had spells in the Premier League with Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur but the Portuguese coach could be back sooner rather than later

Jose Mourinho has emerged as a ‘genuine contender’ for the Newcastle job should Eddie Howe leave. The Magpies have endured a difficult season this term.

They sit 14th in the table after 32 games of the campaign and look highly unlikely to be returning to European football next term. And that has seen the pressure rise on boss Howe.

Should either he decide to depart or the club’s Saudi owners elect to make a change before the start of next season, then Mourinho has emerged as a potential option to take the reins. According to talkSPORT, the Portuguese coach is one of three managers touted as a potential Howe successor.

It is said that Newcastle’s owners would be attracted to a big-name appointment should Howe move on. The former Bournemouth boss would consider leaving should he feel as though he has taken the club as far as he could.

Mourinho, currently with Benfica, has already spoken about the prospect of managing the St James’ Park outfit. Speaking ahead of his side taking on Newcastle in the Champions League, he said: "I don't regret [not managing here] because I never had a chance to.

“Never close (to the manager's job). Close to coming with Sir Bobby Robson (as assistant). That possibility came when I was starting to think about myself. There was a lot of media talk but I was never contacted by Newcastle, never.

"I don’t think they need a [new] coach, I don’t think they’ll need me and I hope it goes well for Eddie. I wouldn’t change Benfica for any club in the world."

Mourinho is reportedly not the only big-name manager under consideration by Newcastle’s owners. Former Manchester City and Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini also has admirers in the North East.

Outgoing Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola would also apparently be open to a move to St James’ Park once he departs the club at the end of his contract. But the Spaniard would have interest from elsewhere, with La Liga club Athletic Bilbao thought to be eyeing him as a replacement for Ernesto Valverde.

Howe’s immediate Newcastle future looks set to hinge on how the side perform over the closing weeks of the campaign. The North East side are back in action this weekend against Bournemouth, with Arsenal, Brighton, Nottingham Forest, West Ham and Fulham all set to come over the next month.

Howe, 48, was appointed by Newcastle in 2021 and has led them to two seasons in the Champions League. He also ended the club’s long trophy drought by winning last season’s Carabao Cup.