Wenger linked to England job Arsene Wenger
Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger

Cape Town — Arsene Wenger admits he is flattered to be linked with the vacant England job – but insists his sole focus is on Arsenal until the end of the season.

The England managerial role has become available after the FA parted company with Sam Allardyce just 67 days in charge.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper alleged Allardyce advised undercover businessman on ways to “get around” third-party transfer rules, making his position as England boss untenable.

Gareth Southgate is the man to take over the reins from ‘Big Sam’ after he was put in temporary charge for the national side’s next four games.

However, with Arsene Wenger inside the last year of his contract at the Emirates Stadium, speculation is rife that his name could be in the hat when the Football Association discuss who should replace Allardyce on a permanent basis.

When asked if he was flattered by the talk, the Frenchman said: “Of course, but my priority has always been this club. Until the end of this season

I’m here, and I am completely focused on that.”

Speaking after the Gunners’ 2-0 victory over Basel in the Champions League on Wednesday, Wenger reaffirmed his commitment to Arsenal after being asked whether he meant he was at the club just until next summer.

“My priority is always Arsenal and I have to assess how well I do until the end of the season,” added Wenger.

Meanwhile, Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe ruled himself out on Thursday of replacing Sam Allardyce as England manager, although he said the “ultimate job” could tempt him later in his career.

Allardyce’s one-game career as England manager came to a humiliating end after just 67 days on Tuesday following controversial comments made to undercover reporters.

The 61-year-old was secretly filmed giving advice on how to circumnavigate transfer rules and mocking England predecessor Roy Hodgson.
Allardyce, appointed England manager in July on a $3.9 million, also agreed to travel to Singapore and Hong Kong as an ambassador for their fictitious firm for a fee of $400 000.

England Under-21 coach Gareth Southgate has been placed in caretaker charge for upcoming World Cup qualifiers, but the 38-year-old Howe has been touted as a full-time replacement on the grounds that the benefit of his being a clean break with the past would outweigh his relative inexperience.

Howe was linked with the England job after Hodgson resigned following the team’s embarrassing exit from this year’s European Championships in France at the hands of Iceland.

But he insisted yesterday he wanted to help cement south coast side Bournemouth’s place in the Premier League as he followed United States coach Jurgen Klinsmann in ruling himself out of replacing Allardyce.— Sport24.

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