Football
Mark Ogden, Senior Writer, ESPN FC 5y

Gareth Southgate set to sign new England contract this week - sources

Gareth Southgate is set to sign a new four-year contract as England manager within the next 48 hours, sources have told ESPN FC.

Southgate was appointed on a permanent basis just under two years ago after an initial four-game spell as interim boss, following the sudden departure of Sam Allardyce.

The former Middlesbrough manager, whose current contract is due to expire after Euro 2020, has earned the longer-term deal and pay rise after guiding England to the World Cup semifinals in Russia. He is expected to sign a £3 million-a-year contract, dwarfing his current £1m-a-year deal.

The Football Association board last week voted in favour of rewarding Southgate, and with negotiations likely to be a formality only the timing of the formal announcement is in question.

While Southgate is keen to return to club management in the future, he is also determined to grasp the opportunity of overseeing the development of a young and talented squad between now and the Qatar World Cup in 2022.

Sources have told ESPN FC that he could sign his new contract before he names his latest squad, for the forthcoming UEFA Nations League games away in Croatia and Spain, on Thursday.

Steve Holland, Southgate's assistant manager, is also expected to also put pen to paper on improved terms.

Meanwhile. former Arsenal defender Sol Campbell is to work in the England under-21's as part of the Football Association's drive to increase opportunities for black, Asian, minority ethnic (BAME) coaches in all levels of the national team.

Campbell, who has criticised the lack of top-level management openings for himself and other BAME coaches, will work with England U21 manager Aidy Boothroyd in November, the FA said in a statement on Wednesday.

"I've accepted to go with England Under-21s with Aidy Boothroyd," Campbell told talkSPORT. "It's for the friendlies against Germany at home and Italy away. For me, what's happening there is great."

Former Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Terry Connor will also work with the U21s for this month's Euro 2019 qualifiers against Andorra and Scotland.

England only need a point to secure their place at next year's tournament.

England's governing body also announced that as part of their inclusion strategy, titled "In Pursuit of Progress," Brighton & Hove Albion first-team coach Paul Nevin will join Gareth Southgate's senior staff for matches against the United States and Croatia at Wembley next month.

The strategy, launched in August, aims to provide opportunities around gender and ethnicity across all age groups of the men's and women's England teams.

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