Newcastle on brink of Howe exit as Jaissle emerges as leading candidate for St James’ Park job

Newcastle United are preparing to part company with Eddie Howe just weeks before the new Premier League season, with Al Ahli coach Matthias Jaissle in advanced talks to take over at St James’ Park.

Howe is expected to leave his role in the coming days after five years in charge, according to The Athletic, despite having publicly indicated at the end of last season that he wanted to continue.

The 48-year-old Englishman has informed the Newcastle hierarchy that he wishes to step away from football for a period to rest, in what is understood to be an amicable decision. Club executives had already drawn up contingency plans in anticipation of his possible departure.

Jaissle talks at advanced stage

Newcastle’s owners are now in detailed negotiations with German coach Matthias Jaissle, currently in charge of Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli, as they move towards a change in the dugout.

Reports state that discussions between Newcastle and the 38-year-old have reached an advanced stage, paving the way for him to assume the head coach role if final terms are agreed.

Saudi media had previously reported that Jaissle and Al Ahli had failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension, with differences over several clauses in the proposed new deal.

Jaissle is regarded as one of Europe’s most promising young coaches. He has led Al Ahli to back-to-back titles in the AFC Champions League Elite in the 2025 and 2026 editions. Both Al Ahli and Newcastle share the same majority owner, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).

Before moving to Saudi Arabia in 2023, Jaissle built his reputation at Red Bull Salzburg, guiding the Austrian side to successive league titles and a domestic cup triumph. At Al Ahli, he has implemented an attacking style based on high pressing.

Howe’s impact and recent downturn

Howe took charge of Newcastle in November 2021, replacing Steve Bruce shortly after PIF’s takeover, at a time when the club sat 19th in the Premier League table.

He steered Newcastle clear of relegation in his first campaign, then delivered a top-four finish in 2022-23 to secure a return to the Champions League. He also oversaw a season in which the club finished in the Premier League’s top five.

The former Bournemouth and Burnley manager also ended a long trophy drought on Tyneside. In 2025 he led Newcastle to victory over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup, securing the club’s first major domestic trophy since 1955 and their first piece of silverware in 70 years.

However, last season brought a clear dip in results. Newcastle finished 12th in the Premier League and were knocked out of the Champions League in the last 16, losing 8-3 on aggregate to Barcelona. They won only five of their final 17 league matches, intensifying scrutiny of Howe’s position.

Despite that downturn, Newcastle officials, joined by representatives from PIF, had agreed in post-season meetings to give Howe another chance, while acknowledging that the campaign had fallen short of expectations.

Managerial change amid turbulent summer

Howe’s likely exit comes during a turbulent summer at Newcastle in the transfer market.

The club have sold Anthony Gordon to Barcelona for £69.3m and Sandro Tonali to Tottenham Hotspur for £100m. There is also uncertainty over the future of Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, who has been linked with Arsenal and is reported to be interested in joining the Premier League champions.

Howe’s looming departure will bring an end to a managerial career that previously included two spells at Bournemouth, separated by a short stint at Burnley, before he took on the Newcastle job.

An official announcement on his future, and on whether Jaissle will be appointed as his successor, is expected in the coming days as Newcastle seek stability ahead of the new season.