England will reportedly consider an approach for Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers should Gareth Southgate decide to step down from his post.
The Three Lions were knocked out of the 2022 World Cup after suffering a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat against current holders France in the quarter-finals on Saturday, and Southgate has remained coy about his future as head coach.
Speaking to reporters after the game, the 52-year-old said: "I think whenever I finish these tournaments, I've needed time to make correct decisions.
"Emotionally you go through so many different feelings. The energy it takes through these tournaments is enormous. I want to make the right decision, whatever that is for the team, for England, for the FA.
"I've got to be sure whatever decision I make is the right one. I think it's right to take time to do that because I know in the past my feelings have fluctuated in the immediate aftermath of tournaments."
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Southgate, who is under contract until the end of 2024, has won 49 of his 81 games as England manager and has led the Three Lions to the 2018 World Cup semi-finals, the Euro 2020 final and the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals during his six-year tenure.
However, the Daily Star reports that he is expected to step down as manager and will inform FA chief executive Mark Bullingham of his decision at a meeting in the New Year.
The report adds that Bullingham is desperate to keep Southgate as England manager and plans to offer the Watford-born boss a significant wage rise to tempt him to remain in charge.
Southgate could allegedly be persuaded by a job offer in the USA from either the national team or a Major League Soccer side, and should he decide to walk away from England, the FA are said to have identified Leicester boss Rodgers as a potential successor.
Bullingham had been interested in appointing an English coach, but the likes of Steven Gerrard – who is currently out of work following his dismissal from Aston Villa – and Everton's Frank Lampard have been deemed 'not good enough' at this stage of their managerial careers, while Graham Potter has only just taken the reins at Chelsea.
Eddie Howe is another name on the FA's radar, but they are aware of the project that he is currently building at Champions League hopefuls Newcastle United and accept it would be difficult to lure him away from St James' Park.
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This therefore leaves the FA to consider Northern Irishman Rodgers for the England hotseat, with the 49-year-old under contract at the King Power Stadium until the summer of 2025.
Rodgers, who has build a reputation for working with young players, has been in charge at Leicester since 2019 and was linked with the sack earlier this season following Leicester's poor start to their Premier League campaign.
However, the Foxes have since turned their fortunes around and won four of their last five league matches before the World Cup break to move them up to 13th place in the table, four points clear of the relegation zone.
Rodgers won the FA Cup and Community Shield with Leicester in 2021 and he also guided them to the Europa Conference League semi-finals last season.
Prior to his spell with the Foxes, Rodgers won seven major trophies in three seasons with Scottish giants Celtic, while he has also managed Liverpool, Swansea City, Watford and Reading during his 14-year coaching career.
It is understood that the FA are also open to appointing a manager from outside of the UK, with the likes of Thomas Tuchel and Mauricio Pochettino believed to be on their radar.
Oliver Thomas
