‘I’m all in’ - Newcastle boss Eddie Howe sends loud and clear message after being tipped to replace floundering Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim

The finger of blame for the rumours should be pointed firmly at former Liverpool, Tottenham and Portsmouth striker Peter Crouch, who said: "Someone mentioned Eddie Howe to me, right, to go to Manchester United. But why would he leave Newcastle?" 

Howe said: "I'm all in (at Newcastle). My commitment here is 100 per cent and always has been. My family is still here, and we are fighting every day to make a success of what we are doing. The season ahead could be a wonderful thing, and that is what we are trying to focus on, trying to make a success of the games we have coming up. It's never gone away, for me, the fragility of the profession that I'm in. Partly, I think that's healthy for me, though, because it drives me to work as hard as I do, because I want to stay in the job that I'm doing, and I want to be successful at it. You know I'm a believer – and I was the same in my playing career – you take your eye off the ball for a second, you get lazy, or you get used to the same habits, that's not going to work, that's not going to bring you results. You've got to continually think and push boundaries and get better, and to do that takes a lot of energy and a look of thought, which drives the people around me mad, I'm sure, but for me, that's part of what drives me and propels me forward."

Amorim faces an uphill battle to improve Man United’s fortunes, including integrating new signings, goal scoring, and establishing consistent team performances. One of the main difficulties Amorim faces is adapting the squad to his preferred 3-4-3 formation, which is a significant change from the formations used by previous managers. While he has reportedly been given considerable backing in the transfer market to shape the squad, the team's performance has been inconsistent. United lost 3-1 to Brentford and suffered a Carabao Cup defeat by Grimsby Town earlier this season, increasing pressure on the Portuguese. The team hasn’t achieved consecutive wins under Amorim, and while he retains the backing of the United board, his long-term tenure remains uncertain without a significant upturn in results.

An emphatic 4-0 away win against Union Saint-Gilloise was a major boost, with new club-record signing Nick Woltemade impressing and demonstrating his potential as a new attacking focal point. New winger Anthony Elanga is also finding his rhythm, suggesting the team is starting to gel. And off the pitch, the club's financial situation is positive, with a 28 per cent revenue increase for the year ending June 2024, fuelled by Champions League participation and a focus on commercial deals, provides a strong foundation for future investment.