THOMAS TUCHEL wants the England job — if Gareth Southgate decides to walk away.
The former Chelsea chief is back in Germany after being sacked by the Blues in September.
But Tuchel, 49, would love to make a swift return to England as boss of the Three Lions.
He has seen first-hand all the young talent at the country’s disposal, both at Stamford Bridge and in opposition teams.
Chelsea stars Mason Mount, Reece James, Conor Gallagher, Raheem Sterling and Ben Chilwell have all been part of the current set-up.
The FA is desperate for Southgate to stay on despite Saturday’s 2-1 World Cup quarter-final defeat to France.
The Three Lions head coach intends to take his time to decide about his future.
His current contract runs until the end of 2024, with the European Championship in Germany barely 18 months away.
If Southgate did choose to quit, it is understood the FA would prefer to appoint a candidate from the British Isles.
Graham Potter, Brendan Rodgers and Eddie Howe would all be in the frame.
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And Argentine ex-Spurs chief Mauricio Pochettino is high on the list, if judged purely by bookies’ odds.
Southgate will assess his future once the crushing frustration in Qatar is replaced by a deeper analysis of England’s situation.
He said: “After every tournament we’ve sat down and reviewed and reflected.
“So we need a bit of time to make sure everyone makes the right decisions.
“Whenever I’ve finished these tournaments I’ve needed time to make the correct decisions because emotionally you go through so many different feelings.
“The energy it takes through these tournaments is enormous.
“I want to make the right decisions, whatever that is, for the team, for England, for the FA.
“I think it’s right to take a bit of time to do that because I know in the past how my feelings have fluctuated in the immediate aftermath of tournaments.”
