- Gareth Southgate has insisted he is solely focused on leading England at EURO 2024
- The 53-year-old has been tipped to replace Erik ten Hag at Manchester United
- Potential replacement for Erik ten Hag must beware of ‘micromanager’ Sir Jim Ratcliffe – Listen to the It all starts! podcast
England boss Gareth Southgate insists his focus remains on this summer’s European Championships amid links with Manchester United.
The 53-year-old will lead England at Euro 2024 in Germany in what could be his fourth and final tournament in charge of the national team.
Southgate’s Football Association contract expires in December and he is reportedly a candidate for Manchester United should they decide to part ways with under-fire manager Erik ten Hag.
However, when asked in an interview with ITV News how he felt about being favorite for the United job, the England boss insisted he is not thinking beyond this summer.
“I’m not a big gambler or bookmaker, they can set their odds but they are not conversations that have been had with me,” Southgate told ITV News.
Gareth Southgate has dismissed ‘irrelevant’ speculation linking him with Manchester United
The 53-year-old insisted his sole focus this summer is to secure Euro 2024 glory with England
“I have one thing to focus on. That is having the most successful tournament possible with England. Everything else outside of that is completely irrelevant to me.”
Southgate has been in charge of the England senior team since 2016, having previously managed the under-21 side.
He has club football experience under his belt having been in charge of Middlesbrough for three years from 2006, but is unwilling to consider a return to day-to-day coaching at this stage.
Southgate added: ‘If I start talking about that I’m already distracted from what I’m doing.
‘So I think the country would expect my focus to be on England, and rightly so.
‘We have had three tournaments where we have taken the audience on a wonderful ride. I think we know that and I know you have the desire to go one step further and this is a great opportunity for us to do that.”
During Southgate’s time in charge of England, they made their first World Cup semi-final appearance since 1990 at the 2018 tournament in Russia and reached a first European Championship final at Wembley in 2021.
According to reports, Southgate is a top target for United chief Sir Jim Ratcliffe if Erik ten Hag is sacked
The Dutchman’s position at Old Trafford looks increasingly weak after a dismal recent run of form
Italy defeated Southgate’s side in a penalty shootout on that occasion and England will be looking to go one step further in Germany this summer.
England start their campaign against Serbia on June 16 at the Arena AufSchalke, before facing Denmark and Slovenia in the remaining Group C matches.