Bournemouth's previous manager must be getting itchy fingers and feet by now. Eddie Howe left AFCB last August and while he has done a spot of punditry he has kept himself pretty much out of the picture for future jobs. But with January approaching and opportunities popping up all over the place, I think we can expect to see Eddie Howe back in football in 2021 and perhaps even as soon as in the next few weeks.
What we don't know is at what level Eddie would look to come back into the game. He loves working with youth more than anything so clubs with young squads are likely to be high up on his list as well as a strong family club. Looking at the struggling teams in the Premier League we can expect teams like Fulham, Sheffield United, Brighton and WBA candidates for managerial changes if the picture doesn't improve for these clubs.
My guess is that Eddie would want to manage a club that is perhaps bigger side than AFCB at least in the way of a fanbase. In that respect, he has potential interest from Newcastle United, or at least their fans. But he may even see a slight chance of getting in the frame for the job at Arsenal if Arteta can't turn things around at the London club. That might be too big a shift up though for Howe and he may be attracted to a club like Crystal Palace who he has turned down before but might feel the time is right now, as Roy Hodgson can't afford too many more heavy defeats.
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There are big clubs though that Howe could look at that would give AFCB fans more immediate concern. He could at the Championship sides that are up against it like Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest, or Derby if Wayne Rooney does not work out. I don't think the Championship or League One would worry Howe if he had a big club to manage with the capability to win promotion.
If we look at the players and connections Eddie Howe might have at clubs, I'd put Sheffield United up there as a really strong potential. Lys Mousset and Aaron Ramsdale may have thought they had seen the last of Eddie but a link up there would not be that surprising. There are a good number of players now-former AFCB players at Nottingham Forest with Harry Arter, Lewis Grabbon and Lyle Taylor on the books. Eddie came back to Bournemouth to be reunited with players and I can see him liking the opportunity to work with players he has already done a lot with who can help pass on his ideas.
Of course, Eddie Howe probably doesn't have to work. he could walk away from football having achieved a great deal. But Eddie is a person who always wants to improve day on day and I still think he could one day get a national club job, such as the England manager. But he has to get back into the game to achieve that, so I am not expecting his phone to stay quiet for long.
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