The FA will redouble their attempts to keep Gareth Southgate as England boss

The Football Association are set to redouble their efforts to keep Gareth Southgate with reservations about homegrown alternatives amid growing optimism the England boss will stay.

Southgate has admitted he is considering walking away after his side’s exit from the World Cup. His future is due to be decided in early 2023 in talks with the FA’s technical director John McDermott and chief executive Mark Bullingham.

But according to well-placed sources, there is growing hope among the governing body that Southgate is ready to lead the team into their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, which starts with a trip to Italy in March.

There is growing optimism that Gareth Southgate will remain England manager

Ahead of Qatar 2022, there was a strong feeling within the FA that Southgate would step down after the World Cup.

But it’s understood Southgate no longer has that sense of resignation, with recent signs being far more positive.

The FA are keen for Southgate to remain as England manager, but his post-tournament comments saying he needed time to think about his future sparked concerns the 52-year-old was seriously considering leaving.

Aware of the possibility of Southgate’s exit, the FA have already begun scouting for potential replacements.

Sportsmail revealed on Tuesday that the FA, which had appointed Netherlands manager Sarina Wiegman as head coach of the senior women’s team, would be ready to appoint a foreign manager should Southgate move.

Southgate insisted he needs time to think about his future after England’s World Cup elimination

Netherlands manager Sarina Weigman is the current manager of the England senior team

Ideally, of course, the organization would prefer to appoint an Englishman to replace Southgate, but there are fears about the viability of any homegrown coaches they could realistically appoint.

Chelsea boss Graham Potter and Newcastle boss Eddie Howe are seen as the leading English managers in the Premier League, but there is a consensus that neither is likely to leave their current positions.

Steven Gerrard is available – but he struggled to impress at Aston Villa before being sacked earlier this season. Frank Lampard could emerge as a contender but he only joined Everton in January.

The lack of viable English rivals is a scenario of which FA decision-makers are keenly aware.

Steven Gerrard has emerged as an option for the FA should Southgate decide to leave

Northern Ireland’s Brendan Rodgers, Argentine Mauricio Pochettino and Germany’s Thomas Tuchel are among the overseas candidates likely to be considered if no Englishman is appointed.

However, given England’s political history with Northern Ireland, Argentina and Germany, there are internal concerns that the appointment of any of the aforementioned trio could unsettle the fanbase.

However, the FA are increasingly hoping Southgate will stay until at least Euro 2024.