FA line up current Prem manager to succeed Southgate after reaching difficult decisions on Gerrard, Lampard and Howe

The FA are considering going against their better judgement and appointing a current Premier League manager as the next England boss with Gareth Southgate expected to stand down, per a report.

England once again failed to defeat a team of similar standing in the knockout rounds of a major tournament. The Three Lions outplayed France in many people’s eyes, though the end result was the same – an early plane ride home.

Southgate has taken England to a quarter final and a semi final in his two World Cups in charge. He also guided England to the final of the last Euros, though doubts are beginning to creep in over his future.

His current deal as England boss doesn’t expire until after the next European Championships to be held in Germany in 2024.

However, following the crushing defeat to France in Qatar, the 52-year-old revealed he’s considering his future.

“These tournaments take a lot out of you and I need time to reflect,” said Southgate.

“We’ve done that after every tournament and that’s the right thing to do.”

“I don’t want to be four, five months down the line thinking I’ve made the wrong call,” added the 52-year-old.

“It’s too important for everybody to get that wrong.”

All manner of names have been linked with the post if Southgate does walk away.

Mauricio Pochettino is leading the way with many bookies, while former Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel is not far behind.

The pair were slotted in at numbers one and two in a recent 10-man shortlist of viable candidates to lead England’s next generation.

However, according to the Daily Star, the FA would prefer to go English once again, which makes it all the more surprising to learn they’re courting Brendan Rodgers.

Lack of viable English candidates aids Rodgers’ case

The Leicester boss is a fine manager in his own right and overcame a slow start to the season with the Foxes prior to the World Cup break.

However, Rodgers is Northern Irish and per the report, is likely to be considered due to many of the FA’s primary English candidates not being suitable for one reason or another.

FA CEO Mark Bullingham will drive the replacement search and it’s noted he wants Southgate to stay.

However, it’s claimed Southgate will hold talks with Bullingham in the new year and the Three Lions boss ‘is expected to stand down’. That’s despite a ‘huge pay rise’ potentially being in the works if he stays.

On the subject of who’ll replace Southgate, England legends Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard are both named. However, neither have set the world alight while managing in the Premier League and as such, both have been deemed ‘not good enough’.

Newcastle’s Eddie Howe is deemed of the standard required, though it’s acknowledged it’ll be mightily difficult convincing him to abandon the cash-rich Magpies at this stage.

Howe has an ever-increasing budget to spend each year and may well be managing in the Champions League if Newcastle can maintain their fast start after Christmas.

As such, the FA will therefore consider the 49-year-old Rodgers who holds a stellar reputation for his work developing younger players.

Whether he’d be open to succeeding Southgate isn’t yet known. That could quickly become clear if Southgate does walk away, at which point Rodgers is likely to hear from Bullingham and co.

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