Man City boss Pep Guardiola responds to link with the England manager’s job

Pep Guardiola says he is ‘really happy’ at Manchester City and only focused on the season ahead, amid speculation he is a leading contender to succeed Gareth Southgate as the next England manager.

The Three Lions job is currently vacant after Southgate stepped down following defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024 earlier this month.

The likes of Eddie Howe, Graham Potter and Lee Carsley are in the running to replace him, while there is the possibility that the Football Association could also look abroad.

Mauricio Pochettino and Jurgen Klopp are in the running, while Guardiola is also on the FA’s radar.

The Spaniard is into the final year of his contract with the Premier League champions, but asked about the possibility of taking the England job he insisted his thoughts are centered on leading City to a fitch consecutive title.

‘I’m really excited for this season that’s coming,’ Guardiola said at a press conference. ‘I’m really happy here.

‘Like every season I need the break, I need it definitely, but after that I charge my batteries and I have the same energy like usual and I know the competition is coming, I will be who we are, who I am. I’m completely focussed on that.’

Reports have suggested that the FA are willing to wait until the end of Guardiola’s contract with Manchester City and appoint him next year.

England Under-21 boss Carsley could be asked to step in as a temporary manager and lead the team until Guardiola is ready to take up the role.

That plan would see Carsley take charge for the upcoming Nations League fixtures and also be at the helm for the start of World Cup qualifying in March.

The bookmakers do not see this as the most likely scenario, with Newcastle boss Howe the favourite to be next England manager, ahead of former Chelsea and Brighton boss Potter.

Speaking about his own future ahead of Newcastle’s pre-season campaign, Howe suggested all was not well at St James’ Park and an imminent parting of the ways could be on the cards.

‘I absolutely want to stay but it has to be right for me and the football club,’ Howe said at Newcastle’s pre-season training camp in Germany last Friday.

‘There’s absolutely no point in me saying I’m happy staying at Newcastle if the dynamic isn’t right. I’m certainly not serving Newcastle well if I do that.

‘So, as long as I am happy, feel supported, feel free to work in the way that I want to work, I have not thought of anything else other than Newcastle. I absolutely love the club. I love the supporters. I love where I am at in my career. There is no better place for me to be.

‘There has been a lot of change at the football club this summer. It has been a very difficult summer for everyone connected with the club. With change comes always a new feeling.