Manchester United reportedly told Thomas Tuchel several weeks ago that he was their top target if they needed a new manager.
Tuchel has agreed a deal to become England’s next manager and is expected to fly in this week to complete the formalities of his appointment.
United, along with other bosses, spoke to Tuchel this summer before deciding to extend Erik ten Hag’s contract.
And he was told a few weeks ago that he was their top target to replace Ten Hag if they fired him The timeswith the Dutchman under pressure again after United’s worst ever start to a Premier League season.
They now have to go back to the drawing board if replacing Ten Hag is still on the agenda, with a potentially critical clash with Brentford this weekend.
Thomas Tuchel was reportedly told weeks ago by Man United that he was their top target to replace Erik ten Hag should they choose to sack the embattled Dutchman
Ten Hag is again under great pressure after holding on to his job this summer
Mail Sport understands Tuchel will earn around £5 million a year. He will start in January on an eighteen-month contract until the 2026 World Cup.
He replaces Gareth Southgate and becomes only the third non-British manager in the Three Lions’ history, after Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.
The FA were sounding out several candidates, including Pep Guardiola and Eddie Howe, but talks with Tuchel quickly gained momentum on Monday, with bosses keen to sign him amid potential interest from United as they close down Ten Hag’s position took into consideration.
A press conference to announce his appointment is expected to be held at Wembley at 1.30pm on Wednesday, attended by FA chief executive Mark Bullingham.
Tuchel has an impressive CV, having won league titles with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, as well as the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup with Chelsea.
But it will undoubtedly be seen as a controversial move by the FA due to England’s rivalry with its native Germany.
England captain Harry Kane played under Tuchel at Bayern Munich last season and spoke earlier today about his former boss’ links with the job.
‘I obviously know Thomas well from last year. Fantastic coach, fantastic person, so I’m sure the FA guys will get back to me when they know more about it,” he said.
Tuchel will permanently replace Gareth Southgate as Three Lions boss who resigned in the summer following the heartbreaking Euro 2024 final loss to Spain
The German has an impressive CV having previously won the Champions League as manager of Chelsea
England U21 boss Lee Carsley has been in interim charge of England since Southgate’s departure
Tuchel has been out of work since leaving German giants Bayern Munich in May
But the FA has moved quickly for Tuchel, who emerged as the frontrunner for the England job due to his record of winning titles, which appeals to the FA.
The fact that Tuchel knows English football from his time at Chelsea, and worked with captain Harry Kane at Bayern Munich, is an obvious bonus.
It is understood he is effectively on garden leave after leaving his previous job at Bayern, which could have financial implications for the FA but nothing that would derail the deal.
Interim boss Carsley will still take charge of the November games against Greece and Ireland.
Mail Sport reported on Saturday evening that the FA had major reservations about whether Carsley wanted the position on a permanent basis.
The governing body wanted to review the situation after the Nations League matches against Greece and Ireland in November.
But there have been internal questions in recent days about whether Carsley is up for the role, following a series of public comments that have been interpreted as the 50-year-old stepping away from the full-time vacancy.
A press conference to announce his appointment is expected to be held at Wembley tomorrow at 1.30pm and will be attended by FA chief executive Mark Bullingham.
The German is England’s first non-English boss since Fabio Capello (pictured) quit in 2012
Carsley was backed by the FA but a feeling that he was not fully convinced about taking the permanent reins has led to the FA all but ruling out the former Everton midfielder and moving to make Tuchel their new boss.
Guardiola is seen as the governing body’s dream candidate, but the FA has not received any encouragement from the current Manchester City boss since an initial approach in July.