Gareth Southgate ‘sparks optimism he will STAY England manager as FA struggle to find homegrown replacement’

THE FA remain optimistic Gareth Southgate will remain England manager.

The Three Lions boss has a contract until Euro 2024 but is considering his future after England’s elimination in the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

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There was talk that the World Cup would be Southgate’s last tournament in Qatar and he is now weighing his future.

But the FA are keen for him to continue and feel progress has been made in the tournament.

And according to The Telegraph, there is optimism within the FA that Southgate will continue in his role for the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, which begins in March.

Some said Southgate would walk away ahead of the tournament but talks with the 52-year-old in Qatar signaled he might want to stay.

The former Middlesbrough manager is said to have been positive about his position in charge and the future of the England team.

Players are believed to want Southgate to stay as boss and the FA also want him to continue in his post and are happy to give him the Christmas break to decide his future.

Not least because there is a lack of suitable English successors, Eddie Howe and Graham Potter are said to be unavailable.

The FA are considering appointing a foreign manager but they understand they could be open to criticism for doing so.

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Thomas Tuchel, Mauricio Pochettino and Brendan Rodgers have all been linked to the role.

Former Chelsea boss Tuchel is believed to be interested in the job and came first in a SunSport poll asking who should succeed Southgate if he leaves.