Gareth Southgate is only thinking about England amid Manchester United links

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England boss Gareth Southgate insists his focus remains on this summer’s European Championships amid links to Manchester United.

The 53-year-old will lead England to Euro 2024 in Germany in what could be his fourth and final tournament in charge of the national team.

Southgate’s contract with the Football Association expires in December and he is reportedly a candidate for Manchester United should they decide to part ways with under-fire manager Erik ten Hag.

However, when asked how he felt about being favorites for the United job in an interview with ITV News, the England boss insisted he was not thinking beyond this summer.

“I’m not a big gambler and punters, they can do their odds, but they’re not conversations that have been had with me,” Southgate told ITV News.

“I have one thing to focus on. That means having as successful a tour as possible with England. Anything other than that is completely irrelevant to me.”

Southgate has been in charge of England’s senior side since 2016, having previously managed the under-21 side.

He has experience of club football after spending three years in charge of Middlesbrough since 2006, but is not ready to consider returning to day-to-day training at this stage.

Southgate added: “If I start talking about it then I’m already distracted from what I’m doing.

“So I think the country would expect me to focus on England and rightly so.

“We had three tours where we took the audience on a brilliant journey. I think we know that and I know you have the desire to step up and this is a brilliant opportunity for us to do that.”

Southgate’s time in charge of England saw them make their first World Cup semi-final appearance since 1990 at the 2018 tournament in Russia and reach their first Euro final at Wembley in 2021.

Italy beat Southgate’s side in a penalty shoot-out on that occasion and England will be aiming to go one step further in Germany this summer.

England begin their campaign against Serbia at the AufSchalke Arena on June 16, before facing Denmark and Slovenia in their remaining Group C fixtures.