Paul Merson urges Chelsea to hire Eddie Howe

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.’

Is Howe perfect for Chelsea?

On the positive side, Howe has done an outstanding job at Newcastle United, transforming them from a struggling side into a disciplined, high-energy team competing for European qualification and winning domestic silverware.

His work ethic, attention to detail, and ability to improve players are well established. At Chelsea., a squad filled with young talent and high-cost signings, that developmental skillset would be valuable. He has also shown he can build a coherent tactical identity, pressing aggressively while maintaining structure, which could bring consistency to a club that has often lacked it in recent seasons.

However, there are legitimate concerns about whether Eddie Howe is the right fit for the scale and pressure of CHELSEA Managing at Stamford Bridge comes with expectations of immediate Champions League qualification and regular trophy contention.

Howe’s track record, while impressive, has largely been built in environments where expectations were more gradual. There is a question of whether his relatively calm managerial style would withstand the constant volatility and scrutiny that comes with Chelsea’s ownership structure and media pressure.

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