Gareth Southgate dropped major hint over Premier League return as England boss ‘in frame for Man Utd job’

GARETH SOUTHGATE wouldn’t be deterred by the mammoth task at hand at Manchester United.

The England boss previously dropped a huge hint that he would be open and able to take on any role in the Premier League.

AP

Gareth Southgate has been linked with the managers job at Manchester United[/caption]

Earlier this week ESPN claimed Southgate is one of three managers that Man Utd have placed on their wish-list.

And while nothing has been decided at Old Trafford about the future of under-pressure Erik ten Hag, minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe may be buoyed by an interview Southgate did back in December.

Before rumours began of a move away from International football and into a role with United, Southgate told Sky Sports he would be open to returning to Premier League management.

Speaking about his previous three-year spell in charge of Middlesbrough, he said: “Everybody would talk about Middlesbrough. ‘Oh, he got Middlesbrough relegated’.

“Well, yeah, in the third year, we got relegated. But I had three years of Premier League management.

“There isn’t a job in world football that would intimidate or daunt you, having lived this one [England], frankly.

“You’re not going to have any higher profile, you’re not going to have any greater pressure, you’re not going to have any more complex issues.”

The job at hand in the Red side of Manchester is certainly a big one with the club entering a new era under the co-ownership of Ratcliffe and Ineos.

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Soutgate for the time being seems confident and comfortable in the hot-seat for the Three Lions but didn’t rule out any kind of exit when asked late last year.

He said: “I’m confident in this role. I’m confident in whatever might be in the future.

“Of course, I’m not going to be here for 20-30 years. I don’t know what the future will be. I’m very calm about that.”

For now waistcoat wearing gaffer has to turn his attention to a huge summer with the national team for Euro 2024 in Germany.

It will be Southgate’s fourth major tournament in charge of England with the 53-year-old yet to put an end to the nation’s 58 years of hurt in men’s football.

Should Man Utd fail to convince Southgate to join their project reports have suggested Brentford boss Thomas Frank and Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi are also candidates for the job.

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