The FA have reportedly made contact with Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola to gauge his interest in taking over as England head coach next year.
The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich head coach is out of contract at the Etihad at the end of this season, and there is apparently a growing feeling that he will depart when his deal runs out in 2025.
Guardiola has so far remained tight-lipped on what the future holds for him beyond the end of the current campaign, but he is thought to be on the FA's shortlist of Gareth Southgate successors.
Following Southgate's decision to step down, Lee Carsley was given the reins on an interim basis, but the 50-year-old is not expected to be given the job on a permanent basis after sending mixed signals about his desire to take on the opportunity.
Now, The Times claims that the FA have stepped up their plan to hire Guardiola by making contact with the Catalan coach, who is the governing body's 'standout option' at this juncture.
Why Pep is unlikely to take England job
However, the FA are yet to receive a response from Guardiola, who has not yet made a final call on his future, but the Premier League and Champions League winner is expected to decide his next career move in the coming weeks.
While some at City supposedly believe that Guardiola's time in the job is nearing its natural end, the powers-that-be are reportedly keen to hand him a new contract until the end of the 2025-26 season, which would mark his 10th year in charge.
If Guardiola does decide that he wants to leave the Etihad, he is supposedly keen to give Man City chiefs as much notice as possible out of respect for the club, as he does not want to leave them scrambling for a replacement.
A separate report from the Daily Star suggests that Guardiola managing England is nothing more than a pipe dream, though, as while he is keen to go into international management, the Three Lions job is not his preference.
Instead, Guardiola is said to have a burning desire to take charge of the Brazil national team, meaning that the FA's pleas are likely to fall on deaf ears, even though he is still weighing up his options.
What Guardiola alternatives can England target?
No-one will knock FA chiefs for trying their luck with Guardiola, and the temporary appointment of Carsley on a six-game basis hinted that the governing body were holding out hope of the City boss becoming available in 2025.
However, if the second report is to be believed and Guardiola were to reject the FA's advances, they would still have a handful of alternatives to fall back on, including another Champions League winner in Thomas Tuchel.
The ex-Bayern and Chelsea boss is said to have also been in contact with the FA over the possibility of taking on the job, and unlike Guardiola, he would be available to take the reins straight away.
Should the FA look to hire an English coach, Newcastle United's Eddie Howe and the currently unattached Graham Potter are thought to be the leading contenders, although it remains to be seen whether the former could be tempted away from St James' Park.
Carsley has won three and lost one of his first four matches in charge, most recently masterminding a 3-1 victory over Finland in Sunday's UEFA Nations League clash, leaving England second in League B Group 2. body check tags ::
