It has been a difficult season for Newcastle United, there's little getting away from that.

Where Eddie Howe's initial impact at St James' Park was a thrilling pulling away from a relegation battle before leading Newcastle into the Champions League and a Carabao Cup final, things have stalled since.

Indeed, there have been growing pains this time around. Despite the many millions PIF have at their disposal, FFP constraints have limited what the club have been able to do in the transfer market.

That's without even mentioning Sandro Tonali's ban from football, fellow summer signing Harvey Barnes suffering freakish injury problems and the ridiculously difficult cup draws the club have been dealt.

An injury crisis has also derailed plans for this season and Newcastle are at risk of falling out of the top half of the Premier League.

As such, Howe has been questioned at times. Clearly, he is not immune from criticism but it's thought the 46-year-old retains the support of the hierarchy.

In fact, it seems he has admirers elsewhere, too.

Eddie Howe: Liverpool retain interest in Newcastle manager According to The Chronicle, insiders at the club are aware that Howe has a strong connection with Michael Edwards, who was linked with a move to Newcastle to replace Dan Ashworth but will rejoin Liverpool as chief of football operations.

Richard Hughes, who was also touted as a potential option on Tyneside, will join him at Anfield and knows Howe from their time at Bournemouth.

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It is claimed that Howe's name does feature on Liverpool's shortlist for a new manager, albeit he is not a leading candidate.

With that in mind, it's difficult to see him leaving a club with Newcastle's ambitions at this stage unless a truly ridiculous offer comes in. Liverpool would perhaps be that but Xabi Alonso is reportedly the frontrunner for when Jurgen Klopp departs.

Back in February 2022, Mehrdad Ghodoussi told The Athletic PIF wanted Howe to be Newcastle's version of Sir Alex Ferguson.

Given there has been little genuine noise about Howe being under pressure even despite some difficulty this season, it stands to reason that remains true.