Gareth Southgate insists he has had no discussions about replacing Erik ten Hag as Manchester United manager this summer.
As Sir Jim Ratcliffe heads into his first summer transfer window as co-owner, the INEOS boss is tipped to cut ties with Ten Hag after a disastrous season that left the Dutchman on the brink of overseeing United’s bottom Premier League finish.
Many reports have named Southgate as a possible replacement, with some even suggesting he is a target for United, but the England manager insists his focus remains solely on this summer’s European competition.
“I’m not a big gambler. They know how to do their problems but it’s not a conversation I’ve had,” he said. ITV.
“There’s one thing I have to focus on and that’s having a successful tournament with England. Everything else doesn’t matter to me.”
Asked if he would like to return to the management of the team, Southgate insisted: “If I start talking about that, it means that I have been distracted from what I am doing, so I think the country can expect me to focus on England.” , and it should.”
In a separate interview no BBCSouthgate also played down United’s links.
“For me it is not an issue and never has been,” he stressed. “I have to bring a successful tournament to England. There is enough work out there for that.
“There will always be speculation about management, because if you lose a few games, you’re in trouble – you win a few games and it’s a different system.”
Southgate’s contract in England runs until the end of 2024 and reports suggest the English FA are keen to tie him to an extension, but any talks could be closely watched by United as they prepare to make a decision on the Ten Hag’s future this summer.
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