FA 'make contact with Pep Guardiola' as first step taken to hire Man City coach

The FA have reportedly contacted Pep Guardiola to gauge his interest in taking the England job when his Manchester City contract expires. Guardiola has been linked with the vacancy over the last few months but is yet to make a decision on his future.

The Spaniard is only tied down to City until next year and has emerged as a target for the FA in their search for a new England manager. The governing body made ‘informal contact’ with Guardiola at the start of the campaign, according to The Times.

It is said that Guardiola is yet to respond to the FA’s advances and has not decided what to do beyond the end of the season. He is expected to make a firm call over the coming weeks, with City desperate for him to sign extended terms at the Etihad Stadium.

Guardiola would be the standout option to take England forward if he decides not to continue at City. The FA are still believed to be weighing up other candidates, with the likes of Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter having been linked in recent weeks.

Interim boss Lee Carsley could also be handed the job on a permanent basis, having refused to rule himself out of the running after England’s victory over Finland on Sunday.

Speaking after the final whistle, Carsley said: “This job deserves a world-class coach that has won trophies and been there and done it and I’m still on the path to doing that.

“I’ve not really thought that much about it. I keep saying the same thing. My remit was to do six games and I’m really happy with that. I’m enjoying it.”

Guardiola, meanwhile, was quizzed on the England links during an appearance on Italian show Che Tempo Che Fa over the weekend.

“Leaving City? It’s not true, I haven’t decided yet and it is not even true that I will be the next England coach,” he replied. “If I had decided I would say it. I don’t know either. Anything can happen.”

Guardiola has led City to four straight Premier League titles and has produced a number of players for the England team including Phil Foden, Cole Palmer and Rico Lewis. Only time will tell if he decides to take the England job when his City contract runs out next summer.

Earlier this year, the 53-year-old expressed an interest in managing an international team at some point before the end of his coaching career.

“I would like to have the experience of living through a World Cup, or a Euro or a Copa America, or whatever it is,” he said. “I would like that.

“I don’t know if that is five, 10 or 15 years from now, but I would like to have the experience of being a manager in a World Cup.”