GARETH SOUTHGATE has broken his silence on speculation linking him with Manchester United.
The England boss, 53, has been mooted as a potential successor to Erik ten Hag, should the Red Devils boss be given the boot this summer.
When asked about a potential switch to Old Trafford, Southgate insisted that his focus is solely on Euro 2024.
He said: “I’m certainly not going to speak to anyone else.
“I never have, I’ve been eight years in the job and would never entertain speaking to anyone else while I’m in a job, so I don’t know if that answers your question.
“My focus is the European Championship. If we did a contract here before then everybody would be saying: ‘Why are you signing a contract before a Euros where you’ve got to prove yourself?
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“There are two things from my point of view. Firstly, I am the England manager and I have got one job, basically, to try and deliver a European championship.
“Clearly, before that, I have two important games this week.
“And the second thing is Manchester United have a manager.
“I think it is always completely disrespectful when there is any speculation about a manager who is in place.
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“I am president of the LMA so I don’t have any time for that sort of thing.”
According to Sky Sports, Man Utd have not yet made a decision over Ten Hag’s future.
They add that the Red Devils are continuing to plan for next season with the Dutchman at the helm.
Manchester City defender John Stones was asked if would prefer for Southgate to stay with England rather than go to rivals Manchester United.
Stones said: “I personally want him here but it would be disrespectful to talk about a team with a manager when it’s cropped up, in my eyes, out of nowhere.”
Southgate’s £3million-a-year deal with the FA is set to expire in December.
He could opt to leave after Euro 2024, or to extend his deal to after the 2026 World Cup.
England take on Brazil at Wembley tomorrow night, before playing host to Belgium on Tuesday.
They will face further tests against Bosnia and Iceland in June, before kicking off their Euro 2024 campaign by facing Serbia in Gelsenkirchen on June 16.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
