Before a Premier League team comes knocking with a potentially lucrative offer for England manager Gareth Southgate, the FA wants him to sign a contract extension. Even though the season is just 11 games old, five managers have already been fired by English Premier League clubs, and the FA is concerned that Southgate may soon be on a shortlist for a job.
With credit to Southgate, England has experienced a different kind of heartache in recent years, with the pain of barely losing out on trophy replacing the despair of being the biggest flop at a major tournament.
The Three Lions’ performance at the 2018 World Cup was a tremendous step forward, with a 2-1 extra-time loss to Croatia – though it’s easy to be frustrated by the result considering the chances Southgate’s men wasted. Then, this summer, England provided the country with the summer that everyone craved till the very end.
The Three Lions dominated the bulk of the Euro 2020 competition but were defeated on penalties by Italy in the final, with Southgate’s decision to bring in three players in the dying minutes of the game raising many issues after all three players missed.
The FA, on the other hand, has ignored this and wants to increase the former Aston Villa manager’s salary to maintain him in his current position. According to The Sun, following the upcoming international break, Southgate will be offered a £6 million-a-year pay on a three-year contract.
The 51-year-£3 old’s million-a-year contract with Wembley Stadium expires after the Qatar World Cup next year, and he has previously declined to say if he will put pen to paper to extend his tenure in the dugout.
Asked about next year’s tournament after the Euro 2020 final, Southgate said: “That feels a million miles away. For certain this team can be better and can improve.”
“You have seen the young players we have blooded in this tournament and been fantastic.”
“The players have been incredible to work with and tonight is going to be extremely difficult of course and you have to feel that disappointment because the opportunities to win trophies like this are so rare in your life.”
“But when they reflect what they have done they should be incredibly proud of themselves.”
The fact that Southgate has been offered a lucrative contract comes as no surprise, given that FA Chief Mark Bullingham stated before the Euros that the widespread assumption is that the former Middlesbrough manager will remain in charge of England for a long time. It remains to be seen whether Southgate is in talks with the FA on a new contract or if the former Crystal Palace player is eyeing a return to club management instead.
