MANCHESTER UNITED will look to bring England’s entire coaching staff to Old Trafford this summer, SunSport can reveal.
Gareth Southgate is now the red-hot favourite to replace Erik Ten Hag if the Dutchman is axed at the end of the season.
And United insiders say the club wants the England manager, his assistant Steve Holland and coaches Paul Nevin and Martyn Margetson.
A source said: “There is a huge amount of admiration within Old Trafford for the job Gareth and his coaching staff have done with England in recent years.
“They recognise that success is not just about Southgate, it’s also about the DNA he’s built within his coaching squad at England.
“So any move for Gareth would also mean a move for his lieutenants as this would help ensure he has the best chance of making a success of things at Manchester United.
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“Jim Ratcliffe and his team are determined that the club really returns to its roots which is why there is a massive focus on young players and recruiting the best of British.
“The club also thinks Gareth has shown in his job with England that he can handle big characters and big personalities, so he wouldn’t be phased by managing at a club like United.
“One of the biggest draws for United is that Southgate would immediately have the support of the spine of English players running through the club – Maguire, Shaw, Mainoo and Rashford, which would give him a solid base from which to build.
“They think Southgate could turn Rashford back into the world class talent everyone at the club believes him to be.
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“It’s for all those reasons that, at the moment, he is seen as the outstanding candidate should they decide to change direction in the summer.”
Southgate’s England contract expires at the end of the year.
He has not ruled out staying with the Three Lions through to the 2026 World Cup.
But an offer from United could change all that.
Southgate said last month: “There’s a fair chance half the coaches won’t be here after the Euros. That’s international football.
“You’ve got to see how the summer goes – it’s as simple as that.
“I know what we’re capable of achieving in the summer, I know what my own benchmark of success would be, after that I’m not really thinking about anything else.
“We’ve got to deliver a performance and you’ve got to make the best decisions for everybody. I won’t be in a position to make that decision before the tournament.”
Meet Gareth Southgate’s team
The three men United are ready to take from England to seal a deal for Southgate…
STEVE HOLLAND
A familiar name to Chelsea fans, he served as the Blues’ No2 between 2011 and 2017.
Working with the likes of Roberto Di Matteo, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, he helped deliver several trophies including two Premier League titles and the club’s first-ever Champions League.
He has been by Southgate’s side since 2013 after the pair worked together with England’s U21s and would be a key ally at Old Trafford.
PAUL NEVIN
One of England’s main coaches, Nevin first linked up with the Three Lions in 2018 as part of the FA’s BAME initiative.
He then departed to join West Ham in 2020 before returning in a dual role with England a year later.
Nevin is now assistant manager at Strasbourg, Chelsea’s sister club, under Patrick Vieira, and juggles the position with his England role.
MARTYN MARGETSON
One-time Wales international has been England’s goalkeeping coach since 2017.
He has also held roles at Cardiff, West Ham, Crystal Palace and Everton after becoming a loyal Sam Allardyce devotee.
Margetson was most recently at Swansea with Steve Cooper until 2021, and has been solely committed to England ever since.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
