Scholes tips Eddie Howe as the man to rescue Man United

Manchester United’s reset under Ruben Amorim hasn’t caught fire. Despite a full pre-season and a summer attacking revamp featuring Matheus Cunha, Benjamin Sesko and Bryan Mbeumo, the performances remain patchy and the pressure is simmering. There’s no sign of the axe just yet, but the debate over who could steady the ship has burst into life.

Enter Paul Scholes, who’s nailed his colours to the mast: Eddie Howe is the standout candidate to take the reins if United move on from Amorim. Speaking on The Overlap, and echoed by United in Focus, the Old Trafford legend made it plain he’d back the Newcastle boss—light-heartedly adding he’s less convinced about Jason Tindall on the touchline theatrics.

Why Scholes is sweet on Howe

Look at the CV. Since landing at St James’ Park in 2021, Howe has sharpened Newcastle into one of the Premier League’s most relentless outfits—intense, organised, and nasty to play against. He’s delivered two Champions League qualifications in three full campaigns and reached back-to-back Carabao Cup finals, winning the 2025 showpiece to end a 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy on Tyneside. Before that, he dragged Bournemouth from League Two to the top flight and kept them swinging above their weight. This is a coach who builds, who improves players, who installs a clear identity.

What United need—on paper, it’s Howe

United don’t just need a tactician; they need a rebuilder. The squad has talent but screams out for cohesion, clarity and standards. Howe’s blueprint—front-foot pressing, compact distances, sharp rest defence, and meticulous coaching—ticks nearly every box. You can imagine Alejandro Garnacho and Rasmus Hojlund thriving off the press-and-pounce ethos, while the defensive structure finally gets some consistency week to week.

The snag: prising him from Newcastle

Here’s the rub. Newcastle won’t fancy losing the architect of their resurgence, and compensation wouldn’t be small change. Yet football gravity is what it is: Manchester United’s pull remains immense. For all the recent stumbles, the platform, the resources and the chance to lead a grand rebuild at Old Trafford can turn heads. Timing, of course, is everything—United would need a clear plan, and Howe would need ironclad assurances on structure and recruitment.

Where this leaves Amorim

Amorim isn’t out the door, and there’s still time for his ideas to click. But the inconsistency hasn’t gone unnoticed. If results don’t accelerate, United’s hierarchy will have to decide whether to double down on the current project or pivot to a coach with proven Premier League know-how.

For those tracking the market whispers on the next United boss, you’ll find the latest odds on the best betting sites, but the broader point remains: the right appointment must align style, structure and standards. On current evidence, that’s why Scholes keeps circling back to Howe.

Bottom line

Scholes’ verdict is as simple as it is compelling: if United change course, Eddie Howe is the pick. The footballing logic stacks up—now it’s a question of results, timing, and whether Newcastle can be persuaded to let their project leader walk.