CAN GARETH GO FROM A THREE LION TO RED DEVIL?
Southgate is No.1 choice to lead Ratcliffe’s United revolution
GARETH SOUTHGATE is a wanted man.
And it appears he has a choice between two of the most high-profile and demanding jobs in world football.
It has emerged Manchester United investor Jim Ratcliffe has made Southgate his No.1 choice to replace Erik ten Hag, should the Reds boss be sacked this summer.
But on the opposite end of the rope in this managerial tug-of-war is the Football Association, who are determined not to let the England manager slip away.
FA bosses regard Southgate as God’s gift to the national game, following his stellar work with the Three Lions.
He’s led England to a World Cup semi-final and Euros final since being appointed in 2016.
They are ranked the third best team in the world under Southgate, and will head to the Euros this summer as one of the favourites to win it.
But despite his stock being high, news that Southgate is being lined up to take charge of United will leave some supporters underwhelmed.
The 53-year-old might have revolutionised how the England team is perceived and now performs on the biggest stage.
But to some, he remains a pragmatic and cautious boss.
Someone more proactive than reactive during games when the result is on the line.
In short, he’s not sexy enough to manage United, despite the fact the fallen giants have appointed the likes of Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal since Sir Alex Ferguson retired – with disastrous results.
What new United investor Ratcliffe likes most about Southgate is his steadying influence in such a pressured environment.
His ability to develop young talent and create a winning culture, where one previously did not exist.
A culture he wants Southgate to implement at United, one of the biggest but most broken clubs in the game.
Ratcliffe is not in the business of breezing into Old Trafford with short-term fixes in mind.
The billionaire, Britain’s second richest man, is in it for the long haul. He’s on a mission to restore United to former glories.
To knock Liverpool and Manchester City “off their perch” – while challenging the likes of Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Barcelona for the biggest trophies again.
And he sees Southgate as a crucial part of his ambition.
Just like he does Dave Brailsford, incoming chief executive Omar Berrada (below, centre) and incoming director of football Dan Ashworth (below, right).
Both himself and Brailsford (below, left) want to surround themselves with people they can trust in the most influential positions.
And whatever you think of Ratcliffe’s plans on a moral level to demolish Old Trafford and fund the building of a new state-of-the-art stadium, his intentions are obvious for all to see.
But Southgate has a huge call to make.
England’s future is bright, considering the amount of talent coming through the ranks, led by Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden in particular.
Perhaps he thinks winning the Euros this summer would be the ideal time to leave and seek a new challenge.
Or it might give him the incentive to continue to the next World Cup in 2026.
When it comes to the FA, he can name his price.
But the same could be said if he joined Ratcliffe’s revolution.
And despite all the problems that need fixing at United, the English giants remain a club almost impossible to turn down.
Over to you, Gareth.