Gareth Southgate: England manager to sign two-year contract extension until Euro 2024

Gareth Southgate is expected to sign a new two-year contract extension as England manager.

His current deal is due to end after the Qatar World Cup in December next year.

The new deal will take him through to Euro 2024 in Germany.

Under Southgate, England reached the semi-finals of the World Cup in 2018 and then the final of Euro 2020, and the FA will reward him with a new deal.

Southgate signed a four-year contract when he was appointed in November 2016, and after the 2018 World Cup, he signed an improved four-year deal.

The 51-year-old coached Middlesbrough from 2006-09 and in September, Sky Sports News reported that Southgate has the ambition to go back to being a club manager at some point, but is happy leading England for the time being.

England play their last two Group I World Cup qualifiers against Albania on Friday and San Marino on Monday, November 15, sitting unbeaten at the top of the group table.

Southgate’s midfield dilemma

Gareth Southgate has a real dilemma ahead of England’s crucial World Cup Qualifier on Friday against Albania, especially in midfield, says Sky Sports’ Kaveh Solhekol.

England need four points from their final two games in Group I but while Monday’s trip to San Marino should be a formality, Southgate’s injury- and illness-hit side look set for a nervy night against an in-form Albania at Wembley.

In the build-up to these games, there have been some real problems for Southgate, with players being ill, injured and pulling out of the squad.

Mason Mount has not joined up with the squad yet because he has had an operation removing his wisdom teeth and has not fully recovered from that. It is unclear if he is going to be involved against San Marino on Monday – he is not available for the Albania match.

Luke Shaw has not joined up with the squad yet and is unavailable for Friday night because he suffered concussion in the Manchester derby. He is going through concussion protocols at the moment and it remains to be seen whether he will link up with the squad.

James Ward-Prowse (illness) and Marcus Rashford (fitness) pulled out of the squad. Then there was a real blow in Declan Rice pulling out with illness.

What a crucial player he’s become to England and the way Southgate wants his England side to play. He will not play in either of the games.

In midfield, England have looked at their best when they have had Rice and Kalvin Phillips. Phillips was missing for last month’s qualifiers due to injury, now Rice is missing this month.

Southgate has to work out what he wants to do in midfield in his absence.

bet365 sport. To add to the In-Play excitement, bet365 stream over hundreds of events live to your PC every year. So you can bet as the action unfolds. See all upcoming sport events you can bet at bet experts. Highlights include Masters Series Tennis tournaments and matches from some of the top domestic Soccer leagues in the world. To use the Live Streaming service you need to be log in and have a funded account. Or to have place a bet in the last 24 hours. Any fixture/event on bet365 website and bet365 mobile which has the Play or Video icon is schedule to be show via Live Streaming. bet bg

Make your bet365 registration. Enjoy a unique experience with bet365 and bet365 mobile!

Our forecasts for upcoming meetings have been carefully examine and provide in good faith, but with no guaranteed earnings. We advise you to gamble responsibly and only with the money you can afford to lose.

18+ | Gamble Responsibly | BeGambleAware.org

BET EXPERTS

lsport