Gareth Southgate gets 'unbelievable' warning about taking Manchester United job

Former Premier League manager Sam Allardyce has warned Gareth Southgate against making a return to club management with Manchester United if he is to step down as England manager after this summer's Euros.

The 53-year-old has managed the Three Lions at three major tournaments and his current deal with the Football Association is due to end at the end of this year. Southgate is yet to confirm his plans for after this summer's finals in Germany and last week was linked with succeeding Erik Ten Hag at Manchester United.

The Ineos Group are understood to have analysed potential replacements and admire Southgate. He has been established as the bookmakers' favourite to potentially replace Ten Hag over the past week or so.

However, Allardyce, who managed the likes of Bolton, Newcastle and Blackburn Rovers before an ill-fated one-game reign as England manager in 2016, doesn't think Southgate would be ready for an immediate return to management at Old Trafford, should circumstances offer the opportunity.

Speaking on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, Allardyce said: “I’m not so sure if Gareth [Southgate] walked away from the England job that he’d want the job at Manchester United, he’d want a rest!

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"He’s feeling the pressure already at England, which is unbelievable at times, and yes it’s alright in the in between periods, but when it’s on, it’s really on. The difference with United is that it’s on every day, every week, every month, every year – the intrusion is never-ending. I’m not sure he’d want that after all he’s done for England, he certainly wouldn’t want to jump into it straight away."

Southgate, who hasn't managed in the Premier League since leaving Middlesbrough in 2009, is England's most successful manager since the late Sir Alf Ramsey, who won the 1966 World Cup. During his time as Three Lions boss, Southgate worked closely with United-bound Dan Ashworth in his former role as the technical director at the FA and Sir Dave Brailsford.

‌“I think the speculation around Gareth Southgate going to Manchester United has come from the new owners that have come in," added Allardyce. "Sir Jim Ratcliffe has come in and there’s enough pressure at Manchester United as it is being the manager, without that constant nagging in the back of your mind wondering whether Jim is really considering Gareth Southgate.

“I don’t know whether they have sat down Erik ten Hag and said, ‘Look, this is not going to happen.’”