Eddie Howe left no room for doubt when he was asked about potentially taking over as the manager of Manchester United

Eddie Howe was not tempted by the Manchester United job when asked about it in January. But the manager has since left Newcastle United and is the frontrunner to take over should Michael Carrick be sacked as expected.

United's defeat to Bournemouth on Sunday seemed like the final nail in Carrick's coffin. This season, the Englishman's squad have tasted Premier League victory just once - a 5-2 drubbing of newly-promoted Ipswich Town - and faced the Cherries on the back of a 4-1 loss to Como in the Champions League.

The manager's seat was already too hot to handle pre-match, but after falling 3-0, he exited the Old Trafford turf to applause from fans, who seemed to have accepted that this was his final game in charge. No decision has been made yet on Carrick's future, with crisis talks taking place on Monday. However, it is anticipated that he will depart one way or another.

If and when he does leave, the hunt for a successor will be on. And as things stand, it is former Magpies boss Howe who is leading the way, according to reports. Howe is currently unattached after leaving St James' Park in July. Yet he made his stance crystal clear when asked about taking over at United earlier this year - albeit his circumstances have changed significantly.

At Newcastle, Howe orchestrated two Champions League qualifications and ended their 70-year domestic trophy drought, lifting the 2024/25 Carabao Cup.

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His CV was already a glittering one from his two spells at Bournemouth, where he guided them to Premier League stability and oversaw three promotions in five seasons from League Two to the top flight.

When Ruben Amorim was sacked by United in January, Howe, comfortably at the helm of Newcastle, was asked whether he could be tempted to leave the club for the vacant role at Old Trafford, as well as Chelsea's post after the exit of Enzo Maresca.

A reporter posed the question: "In the last week, you have been linked with the Chelsea job and the Manchester United job. Is there anything that would tempt you away from Newcastle United?"

He replied: "No… Not at this current time. I am very happy at the moment and hopefully that stays for a long time. Absolutely nothing has changed from my perspective. I am one hundred per cent here."

However, almost seven months later, he was zero per cent there. Howe stepped down as Newcastle boss, citing personal exhaustion. Squad turnover and behind-the-scenes tension also likely contributed to his resignation.

It was Carrick who was eventually made United boss permanently, after he took over as interim in January and oversaw a third-place Premier League finish. Liam Rosenior was appointed by Chelsea and sacked after 106 days in the job, with Xabi Alonso now installed.

But the free agent Howe now finds himself linked with United once more, with Carrick on the brink. Perhaps his stance has changed now that he's out of a job?