Eddie Howe is expected to leave Newcastle after around five years in charge, and the bigger issue is the uncertainty around Bruno Guimarães. Newcastle moved quickly to secure Matthias Jaissle from Al Ahli as Howe’s replacement, after doing extensive work on their options, and that tells you this is being treated as a full reset rather than a tidy handover.
Newcastle's rebuild plans
Graeme Bailey said Newcastle see Jaissle as “a coup” and called him “a brilliant young coach”. He also said the appointment is “another statement of their own long-term ambitions”. That fits the mood around the club, which finished 12th in the 2025 Premier League table and posted a 14W-7D-17L league record.
The mixed domestic season sits alongside a stronger European run, with Newcastle collecting 14 points from 8 Champions League matches in 2025. So the picture is not one of collapse, but it is one of a club that clearly believes a shake-up is needed.
Bruno Guimarães remains the awkward part
Howe was blunt about Guimarães’ future, saying Newcastle were not in control of it and calling the distraction unhealthy. He added: “We can't control the forces that are at play here”, and also said he would like to see Guimarães’ commitment continue.
That leaves Newcastle in a familiar place. They may well move on from Howe with a clear plan, but the football argument now centres on whether they can keep one of their most important players through a summer that already looks busy. ChronicleLive reported Newcastle had not received a formal offer for Guimarães 48 hours before his return from South America on Friday, while other reports have linked Arsenal with an advancing bid.
The form is not the problem. Guimarães averaged a 7.11 rating across his last 5 World Cup matches and had 4 goal contributions in that spell, with 431 minutes played. He is still producing. The issue is whether Newcastle can keep him while they reshape the squad around a new coach.
Alan Shearer’s tribute only added to the sense of an ending. He posted a photo of Howe holding the Carabao Cup after Newcastle beat Bristol City at Wembley in 2025, with the line: “Thanks Eddie. You gave us this day.”
Howe’s departure is being sold as mutual, but the football case now sits with the rebuild. Newcastle have already moved for Jaissle, and the next major decision is whether they can hold on to Guimarães while the summer keeps moving.
FAQ
Why is Eddie Howe leaving Newcastle being linked to a major rebuild?
Howe is expected to leave after around five years, and Newcastle moved quickly to secure Matthias Jaissle from Al Ahli as his replacement. The club also did extensive work on its options before landing Jaissle. The bigger issue is the uncertainty around Bruno Guimarães, with Howe saying Newcastle are not in control of his future.
Is Bruno Guimarães definitely leaving Newcastle this summer?
No, there is no confirmation that Guimarães is leaving. Howe said Newcastle are not in control of his future and called the distraction unhealthy. ChronicleLive also said Newcastle had not received a formal offer 48 hours before his return from South America, so the situation is still open.
What did Alan Shearer say about Eddie Howe after Newcastle’s trophy win?
Shearer posted a photo of Howe holding the Carabao Cup trophy after Newcastle beat Liverpool at Wembley in 2025. His message was short and direct: “Thanks Eddie. You gave us this day.”
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →
