Eddie Howe backed to take Chelsea job!

Football pundit and former England midfielder Paul Merson has urged Chelsea Football Club to keep a close eye on Eddie Howe as a potential managerial appointment this summer, amid mounting speculation over the Newcastle United boss’s future and Chelsea’s ongoing hunt for a permanent head coach.

CHELSEA recently dismissed Liam Rosenior after a brief tenure in charge, leaving interim boss Calum McFarlane at the helm until the end of the season. With the Premier League season winding down, Chelsea’s board and sporting directors are under increasing pressure to appoint a manager capable of steadying the club and returning the Blues to consistent top-flight form.

Merson, speaking on Sky Sports, emphasised that Howe would be a “top manager” suited to the challenge at Stamford Bridge, particularly if the Newcastle figure were to become available next season. The 48-year-old has been linked with departure rumours as Newcastle struggle this campaign, sitting precariously just above the relegation zone — a stark contrast to their recent successes under Howe’s stewardship.

‘I’m a big fan of Eddie Howe,’ Merson told Sky Sports. ‘If Eddie Howe leaves Newcastle, they’ll be queueing up around the corner for him. So that tells you everything. Be careful Newcastle. Chelsea would take him tomorrow morning, you’d like to think so wouldn’t you?

‘In my opinion, they’d take him all day long. We’re talking about a next England manager, 100 per cent.

‘As I say, everybody would be queueing up to take Eddie Howe, he’s a top manager.

‘He’s just had injuries and with the (Alexander) Isak thing at the end of the season. I think Eddie has done enough to decide whatever he wants at the club. I think there’s a genuine love for him up there.’

Reports indicate that Newcastle’s ownership and sporting hierarchy are planning a comprehensive evaluation at the season’s end to assess Howe’s future amid the club’s underwhelming campaign. Despite this review, there is also a strong contingent within the club that continues to support the manager, acknowledging his long-term contributions to the Magpies.

CHELSEA — meanwhile — have begun assessing a wide pool of managerial candidates. Recent reports list Andoni Iraola, Marco Silva and Xabi Alonso among the frontrunners for the Stamford Bridge job, reflecting Chelsea’s desire for a tactically adept leader with experience in competitive environments.

Merson’s call to monitor Howe underscores the broader conversation around Chelsea’s next managerial appointment. Howe’s blend of Premier League experience, tactical acumen and proven ability to work under pressure are qualities that, in Merson’s view, would make him a compelling choice for a club that has endured frequent managerial turnover in recent years.

For Chelsea, the challenge will be not only identifying a manager with the profile they desire but also convincing a candidate of the club’s long-term vision and stability — something that has historically proven difficult during periods of rapid change at Stamford Bridge.

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