Eddie Howe buyout clause 'revealed' as Newcastle United braced for England approach

Many expect Southgate to leave his post as Three Lions manager in the wake of Sunday’s Euro 2024 final defeat to Spain. The former Aston Villa and Middlesbrough defender has reached back-to-back Euro finals but after losing both times, the general consensus is he has taken his nation as far as he can.

That has led to speculation over who could replace him and unsurprisingly, Howe has featured in almost every conversation. During his two-and-half-years as Magpies’ boss, the club has progressed from Premier League relegation candidates to qualifying for the Champions League, as well as play in a Carabao Cup final.

Although the previous campaign didn’t quite hit the heights of finishing inside the top four - instead Newcastle fell out of Europe altogether, Howe retains the full support of the club’s board and is currently busy in Germany with his players at a training camp before flying to Toyko later this month.

Mail Online claims that Howe is relaxed about the England links but any potential approach ‘would leave him with a decision to make’. It’s understood the 46-year-old’s contract has a buyout clause of ‘at least £5million’, which has reduced from £8m after Newcastle’s failure to qualify for the Champions League again.

Howe previously dismissed talk of succeeding Southgate after the 2022 Qatar World Cup. While he didn’t deny that managing England was one of his ambitions, he did say it wasn’t on his radar in the short-term.

“Gareth has done an incredible job and I mean that from the bottom of my heart,” said Howe. “I have been lucky enough to go in and see him work and I have a lot of time for him and Steve Holland. They have been amazing for England. You have to remember where England were before he took over and what he has done for the country.

“I never say never, never say no, it won’t be something I am interested in. But in the short term it is not on my radar at all. It is all Newcastle and trying to make this team better. I have always said I love the day to day coaching, love being with the players on the training ground, international football you get that taken away for long periods. At this moment in my life that is not something I want to do.”