Jose Mourinho lined up for Newcastle job after shock twist | OneFootball

Former Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho is reportedly being lined up for a sensational return to English football, according to a new report.

The Unspecial One

Mourinho is currently in charge of Portuguese giants SL Benfica, having taken the reins from compatriot Bruno Lage in September.

However, the return to the Estádio da Luz has not proven successful for the ‘Special One’, with the Eagles currently ten points adrift in the Liga Portugal title race and having already suffered early exits from both the Taça de Portugal and the Champions League.

The exit to Real Madrid in Europe was also marred by controversy after Benfica forward Gianluca Prestianni was banned by UEFA for racial abuse towards Vinicius Junior, with Mourinho also drawing criticism for his response to the incident.

While Mourinho’s stock in his native country remains high, there is a sense he may not remain at Benfica beyond the current campaign. Interestingly, Ruben Amorim – who was handed his marching orders by INEOS in January – is a name strongly linked with the Lisbon club, having enjoyed unprecedented success with local rivals Sporting CP prior to joining United.

But if the 63-year-old manager does become available this summer, Newcastle United are already being touted as an option for him to return to the Premier League as the Magpies contend with Eddie Howe’s potential exit.

Trouble on Tyneside

Newcastle are enduring a difficult season after early exits from the cups and a dismal campaign in the Premier League. They are currently 14th in the table, with zero hope of securing European football next year.

Furthermore, there are financial difficulties on Tyneside as the club’s Saudi ownership continues to govern with an indifference that contrasts with the fervour of the early period of their tenure at the helm.

There are growing concerns Newcastle will be forced to sell some of their best players, already having lost Alexander Isak and Elliot Anderson in recent years, to help balance the books. Lewis Hall, Bruno Guimarães, Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon are all being chased by other top clubs hoping to take advantage of this situation, including the Red Devils.

This has led to reports suggesting Howe may follow his prized assets through the door at St James’ Park. “Sources now indicate that as he weighs up his own future, it cannot be ruled out that he could choose to step away from the St James’ Park hotseat by resigning,” TEAMtalk reveals.

“Newcastle are understood to be preparing for a significant squad reshaping this summer, with the possibility that key players may need to be sold in order to rebalance finances and evolve the team. While the club would want Howe to oversee that process, there is growing awareness internally that he could opt to take a break from management, as he did following his departure from Bournemouth in 2020.”

Ben Jacobs (talkSPORT) corroborates this uncertainty, claiming the Saudi owners are “attracted to the idea of appointing a big-name in the event Howe departs” – which has led to Mourinho’s name being floated.

The Portuguese treble winner is understood to retain “admirers among the Newcastle hierarchy”, despite having burned bridges at Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in his last three jobs in England.

Final Thoughts

If Howe were to depart Newcastle, and the ‘Special One’ arrive in his place, it would certainly make for blockbuster viewing in the brief time that the ill-suited marriage in the north east lasted. And if it helped escalate the exit of the Magpies’ best players to escape his reign of terror, that would just be the cherry on top of a delicious cake for United fans.

Featured image Ahmad Mora via Getty Images

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