Gary Lineker hints at potential leads in England’s hunt for a new permanent manager

Gary Lineker has disclosed that he has been privy to some rumors swirling around England's quest for a new permanent manager in the wake of Gareth Southgate's departure.

Lee Carsley has been in charge of the Three Lions on an interim basis – but hasn’t applied for the full-time role – and hinted he’ll be returning to the U21s job.

That means the Football Association must look elsewhere, with Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola very much seen as the dream candidate and No.1 choice.

Guardiola is out of contract at the end of the season and has been ‘sounded out’ about becoming England’s next manager, The Times reported on Monday.

Amid all the rumours and gossip, broadcaster and former England footballer Lineker has explained exactly what is being whispered behind the scenes.

The Match of the Day host, capped 80 times by the Three Lions, suggested that Carsley could be aware of what his future holds – but that he can’t make it public.

‘I wonder – I’ve heard rumours and stuff – whether he knows something about what’s happening in terms of they’re looking for a new manager,’ Lineker told The Rest Is Football Podcast.

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‘I think they’ve sounded out coaches. That’s what the rumours are, that’s what we’ve heard.

‘And I wonder whether he thinks he’s not going to get it so therefore he is perhaps protecting himself and wants to get his other job back.

‘I don’t know, because it seems a little bit defeatist. “They need a winning coach”, I mean, look at the two teams who have just won international tournaments.

‘Spain didn’t have a guy who had won trophies before, certainly not in league football, Lee Carlsey has won [the European Championship with England U21s].

‘So he has won a trophy, but he’s talking about club sides. I wonder whether they have been sounding out people and he’s found out and he just doesn’t believe he is going to get the job.’

Other managers who have been linked to the England job include Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe plus former Chelsea head coaches Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter.