Eddie Howe has “rejected” the opportunity to manage Crystal Palace, according to The Sun.

The former Newcastle United boss was rumoured to be one of the names in the frame to replace Pierre Sage, who was sacked on Monday.

The Sun reports that 48-year-old Howe is ready to return to management after ending his five-year stint at Newcastle in July this year.

Howe Turns Down Palace

Howe is being courted by several clubs, with Palace the latest to consider him as they try and turn around a dire start to their Premier League campaign.

But Howe has reportedly rejected the move as he waits for the right opportunity.

The Eagles are bottom of the table with just seven points from ten games. They are 21^st in the Europa League table with five points, but they are through to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup, where they play Sunderland.

They have only scored ten goals in the Premier League this season, and have conceded 24, the most in the league.

It’s understandable they would consider Howe. He took over at Newcastle in 2021 when the Magpies were in a similar position to Palace and turned their season around.

Newcastle were 19^th and had just five points from 11 games. They were winless in their first ten games, and it took Howe a further four games before a 1-0 win over Burnley kick-started their season.

He went on to be one of the most successful managers in Newcastle’s history, guiding them to the Champions League twice and winning the Carabao Cup in 2025, the club’s first trophy for 70 years. His resignation in July came after several high-profile player exits.

Before joining Newcastle, he had success at AFC Bournemouth, taking them from League Two to the Premier League.

With Howe out of the running, Palace are looking at other options. The Sun claims that Thomas Frank is the favourite for the job, with Sean Dyche also considered.

Frank was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur in February after only eight months in charge, while Dyche was given the boot by Nottingham Forest around the same time.

Howe to Manchester United?

The Sun reported a couple of weeks ago that Howe is ready to return to the dugout after four months out of the game.

He turned down a job in France with Lens, because he and his team did not see it as a “natural next step”. He was also linked with Fulham earlier in the season.

The strongest links have been with Manchester United. Some inside Old Trafford are impressed with Howe’s managerial record, and The Sun claims that co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe favours an English manager, bolstering Howe’s chances of replacing Michael Carrick.

Further reports from the same outlet state that Howe “studied” United in recent weeks as Carrick’s reign imploded. United sit 18^th in the Premier League, their lowest league position since 1986, and are struggling in the Champions League.

Reports in the media suggest that the Red Devils will put Carrick out of his misery imminently and use the international break to appoint a new manager.

Howe faces stiff competition for the job. Mauricio Pochettino, Julian Nagelsmann, Antonio Conte, and Unai Emery have all been mentioned, although Emery is reportedly about to sign a new contract at Aston Villa.