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The speculation continues to rise around the future of Pep Guardiola, and naturally everyone wants a piece.

After the Bayern Munich manager told the world that he would be stepping down as manager of the Bavarian club at the end of the season, his name was thrown up as a possible candidate to replace any manager under a little bit of pressure at any top club, and even some managers not under pressure.

Naturally enough he’s been touted to replace Jose Mourinho at Chelsea in the long term – at least that’s a job that’s available this summer. It seems fair enough that the rumours would focus on Manchester United too – after all, Louis van Gaal is under mounting pressure, and his style of play installed at Old Trafford does lend itself to Guardiola’s preferred approach, even if the Spanish coach does make it seem much sexier.

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But speculation around Manchester City is greatest, even if Manuel Pellegrini isn’t really in an awful position this season and under normal circumstances, wouldn’t face the sack. But when Pep is available, these are not normal circumstances. Even Arsene Wenger could see himself replaced by the special Catalonian. But, as Jurgen Klopp points out, “’If this rumour is as well-tuned as all the other transfer rumours here then Pep will go somewhere else completely.”

This is modern football. The speculation and the readiness to chop the head off a fairly successful manager at the slightest provocation is rife. That’s just the way it is these days. Money is so important (that’s not a jibe at football as such, money is just that important in our society) and that makes success so important. Clubs need trophies in order to win more trophies and attract the best players.

And Pep Guardiola pretty much guarantees success as a manager. His five league titles out of six entered speaks for itself, but it’s also true that Pep, as a manager, has only ever been knocked out before the semi-final stage in any competition once (an away goals defeat to Sevilla in the Copa del Rey last 16 in 2010).

Clearly Pep is a special coach. Any team would want him, and it looks like every team is going mad to sign a man who isn’t likely to spend more than three years in charge of their club. The longevity of the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson or Arsene Wenger looks like a thing of the past.

But appointing a manager like Guardiola doesn’t simply mean success for three years and then fading into nothing. Barcelona have shown us that life post-Pep can be very rewarding still.

When Guardiola left Barcelona, it was after he realised that his players didn’t need his intense supervision and precision coaching in order to play the type of game that won them every every competition they entered in 2009.

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Now that he’s leaving Bayern Munich, it seems that maybe he’s worried that his services are no longer needed. The players are capable of doing it for themselves, and now it’s time for a new challenge.

It might also be a case of throwing his cap over the wall – Bayern have never won the Champions League under Pep, so this is now his last chance and he must make it count. Throwing your cap over the wall means you have to jump over and follow it, he has no choice now.

For a club like Manchester City, bringing Pep into the club would be the best thing they could do. Even though Pellegrini is a wonderful manager, Pep would create the dynasty that City crave.

The set-up of the club is such that the arrival of a manager who is so adept at putting his seal on a club and giving it a footballing identity mean Pep could be creating a squad who can win trophies with ease even after his departure.

The money and the academy situation at City is perfect for Pep, and the arrival of Guardiola would be the icing on the cake. Despite all of the speculation and the clamour, Pep is still one of the best the world has ever seen. And if the world has moved on to a new era of keeping managers only for a few years, then Pep is the ideal man for the new era.

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Last week one of the big news stories coming out of Madrid was the sacking of Benitez from Real Madrid.

Again the team full of Galacticos had disposed of a manager who is one of the best in the game. He was replaced with Zinedine Zidane, the ex-player who enjoyed many years at Madrid, both as a player and a coach. Though he has no experience coaching at the top level, he had been involved within the framework of Madrid for many years, being the coach for the B team, Castilla, as well as being Carlo Ancelloti’s assistant during his successful yet short tenure at the Bernabeu.

Yet, is the role of the ‘Supermanager’ over and, should teams be looking to promote their own from within, ex-players who know the system well?

With the success of Pep Guardiola at Barcelona, teams have taken note and tried to look at their own systems in an attempt to create a similar, successful set up.

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Guardiola made his way up through the ranks, being a player, then managing at Barca B, until taking the reigns of one of the most entertaining clubs in the world, replacing Frank Rijkaard in 2008. What followed was the emergence of a certain Lionel Messi, several Champions League trophies and countless other league and domestic honours.

What it did was illustrate the benefits of promoting within, allowing a manager with experience in day to day handling of the club to take the reigns, and make him a role model to look up to. In the end it got him the Bayern Munich job, and now he’s one of the most wanted managers in the world with several clubs reportedly eager to be his next project once he leaves Bayern this summer. So just how successful can it be for clubs to promote within? And what to do they get?

With a home grown manager, you’re getting someone who knows everybody, from the tea lady to the chairman. They know the club inside out, the style the fans want and how to embrace the players. For lower league clubs, it is an option most chose, due to the finances being tight and needing a manager who can provide a quick fix.

Gareth Ainsworth at Wycombe has to be a great example of this.Being handed the managers job in 2013, he has stabilised the club, and developed the side in to promotion candidates, as well as most recently pulling off a draw against Aston Villa in the FA Cup. Other clubs have done the same, and in England it is not so unpopular.

Many forget that Roberto Martinez was a fan favourite at Swansea, and in 2007 took the mangers role and guided the club to League One. In 2014, Garry Monk became the Swansea manager and although he was recently sacked, initially led Swansea to their club record Premier League points haul of 56 in 2014/2015.

It highlights just how effective it can be for clubs to promote from within, and it is better for them when the manager knows the ins and outs and everyone around the club, creating an effective working relationship.

So ‘Supermanagers’ die out? The possibility is yes, highlighted through the fact Mourinho has not yet been snapped up by a club since his dismissal from Chelsea, while Manchester United are supposedly looking to promote Ryan Giggs, who we all know epitomises someone who knows a club inside out…

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Is it me, or has Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain been exceedingly quiet this season?

The young Arsenal and England star is facing another injury lay-off – and there are fears that this new set-back could wreck his Euro 2016 chances.

The Arsenal midfielder was sent for a scan after damaging his right knee and ankle in a challenge with Barcelona’s Javier Mascherano. A challenge that Arsene Wenger described as Oxlade-Chamberlain “cut in two”.

Talking to The Guardian, Wenger said: “It is a new injury. When he has been cut in two by Mascherano he did his knee. We have to see how big the damage is. I don’t think it was a malicious tackle, it was a fully committed tackle.”

He left on crutches with heavy strapping that night amid fears that he had damaged ligaments, which could mean he misses a big chunk of Arsenal’s title run-in, if not all of it.

Oxlade-Chamberlain knows missing the two next England friendlies with Germany and Holland next month will be a massive set back to his Euro hopes, surely. He has already suffered injury set-backs this season and has also struggled to hold down a regular first team place. That has probably left him worried about his long term future at Arsenal, with several clubs now looking at his situation as he will have two years left on his contract this summer.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is desperate to play for England, has been a regular for Roy Hodgson but knows time is running out on his chances to make the squad.

The loss of ‘The Ox’ is unfortunately timed, arriving as Arsenal prepare for a tough run of games to consolidate their top four finish, if not a final assault on the title. Once again, their best chance of winning the league for a while seems to be waning, but the north London side need every available player with so many games to come in a short space of time. This is, of course, the business end of the season.

“It is the key period,” said Wenger. “We work the whole season for this period. That is where you are really tested. It is the most interest period in the season, the period where you can show quality, nerves and desire.”

Under the guidance of Wenger, Oxlade-Chamberlain has partly become the player everyone expected he could be, but there is so much more to come. His move from Southampton to Arsenal in July 2011 for a fee around £15m all told could have held him back, but he has shown that he is more than capable of performing in the Premier League.

Other clubs are now looking at Oxlade-Chamberlain as a summer target, but will Wenger be ready to listen to offers for his protege just yet?

Where does his future lie?

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Newcastle United fans probably aren’t even thinking about what might happen in the summer just yet as the club’s battle for Premier League survival continues, but the coming transfer window could be an incredibly exciting one with Rafa Benitez at the helm.

First of all, the Spaniard has reportedly taken the Toon job on the proviso that he’ll be given free reign in the transfer market, so there won’t be another Ligue 1 haul arriving courtesy of chief scout Graham Carr and controversial owner Mike Ashley won’t be flogging the club’s top talents to the highest bidder.

But secondly and perhaps more importantly, Benitez is one of the best in the business who boasts vast connections throughout European football, having worked in La Liga, Serie A and of course, the Premier League, and that combination could grant Newcastle access to a level of the transfer market that has repeatedly evaded them in recent years.

With that in mind and the Magpies starting to move in the right direction following a draw to Sunderland on Sunday, here are FIVE transfer coups Benitez could secure for his club during the coming transfer window – providing they stay in the top flight.

Gabi

The inspiration for this list, Atletico Madrid captain Gabi was linked with a shock move to Newcastle United by Spanish outlet Marca last week.

The Spaniard doesn’t offer much longevity at the age of 32 but he’s supremely experienced, lifting a Europa League title, Copa del Rey and La Liga title with the Mattress Makers – captaining them to the latter two triumphs.

Gabi’s a hardworking midfielder who combines industriousness with consistency in possession, averaging 3 tackles, 2.1 interceptions and 62 successful passes per match this season, and rumour has it he wants a transfer to the Premier League before his career comes to a close.

With his contract set to enter its final twelve months, the coming transfer window represents Newcastle’s best chance of luring him away from Vincente Calderon and his disciplined style suits Benitez’s tactical approach.

SOFIANE FEGHOULI

Sofiane Feghouli looks set to leave Valencia upon the expiration of his contract this summer and a wealth of clubs have reportedly taken a look at the Algerian ace, not least including Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United.

The 26-year-old has never been the quickest of wide men and is really struggling for form this season, finding just one goal and one assist in 18 La Liga outings, but remains a good technician with creative instincts and a decent eye for goal.

He proved as much in the Champions League’s Group Stages earlier this season, netting twice in five outings whilst averaging 2.2 created chances per match, and would offer the Magpies added width in attack.

Something tells me the aforementioned clubs won’t come good on their reported interest this summer so if the Toon act quickly, Benitez’s presence on Tyneside could see them seal a deal for the 35-cap international.

JOSE CALLEJON

Jose Callejon enjoyed the best form of his career under Rafa Benitez after being brought to Napoli by the Newcastle boss in summer 2013, bagging 26 goals and nine assists in 75 Serie A outings during the Spaniard’s two campaigns in Naples.

He can operate as a striker, a wide man or a No.10, capable of converting chances or providing them for others, and comes with good pedigree, having begun his career in the Real Mardid academy and later represented them on 77 occasions at senior level following an intermittent spell at Espanyol.

Having failed to rekindle that same level of form under Benitez’s Napoli successor Maurizio Sarri this season, Callejon might be open to leaving Napoli this summer – especially considering he’s now 29 years of age and running out of time to test himself in another league.

Likewise, with his contract verging upon its final two years, a summer departure could suit the Naples outfit as well. A talented attacker with 42 outings in European competitions under his belt, producing an impressive 15 goals, Callejon would be a real coup for the relegation-threatened Toon.

CHRISTIAN BENTEKE

Despite Aleksandar Mitrovic’s late heroics against Sunderland, Newcastle United still lack a centre-forward they can truly depend on for a consistent supply of goals.

Enter Liverpool’s Christian Benteke, who looks to become one of the only strikers combining proven Premier League pedigree, decent age and availability during the summer transfer window amid reports Jurgen Klopp will look to offload the out-of-favour Belgian battering ram.

Indeed, the 25-year-old’s target man services just don’t suit the Klopp philosophy but he netted 49 times across three campaigns with Aston Villa and would amass an even greater haul in a side willing to offer him the right kind of service.

Benteke’s availability is already intriguing a number of clubs, most notably West Ham, but the Benitez connection could give Newcastle the upper hand in any negotiations with the Merseyside outfit.

RAUL ALBIOL

Another Napoli ace who might be interested in a Benitez reunion is Raul Albiol – who also worked under the Spaniard at Valencia, albeit at youth team level, all the way back in 2002.

He’s another Real Madrid import the Magpies gaffer brought to Naples and has represented the Spanish national team on a whopping 53 occasions, featuring in the squads that lifted consecutive European Championships and the 2010 World Cup.

Newcastle are in desperate need of a new defensive leader amid Fabricio Coloccini’s desperate struggles for form, preferrably at centre-half, and the 30-year-old more than fits the bill in that regard.

Now coming to the end of his best years and set to enter the final twelve months of his contract this summer, a decent bid could well convince the Serie A outfit to sell. But Albiol has played regularly at European level for the entirety of his senior career and may resultantly deem the Magpies a little below his station.

Under-fire Everton manager Roberto Martinez has stated that the good work he has done at the club over the last three years should contribute to him keeping his job.

The Toffees have had a disappointing campaign in 2015-16, with inconsistency and a poor home record leaving the Merseyside club in mid-table.

The Goodison Park outfit had ambitions of finishing in the top six this season, with the young players at Martinez’s disposal better than their form has suggested of late.

Reports suggest that Martinez could be shown the door soon, with a shortlist of managers compiled to replace him at Everton.

Despite this, the former Wigan boss has been vocal on why he should be given more time by the club to prove himself.

Martinez has stated that the Toffees have progressed under this stewardship.

“I just want to believe, with the work I have done for the last three years, there are signs there that we are getting close to challenging for silverware and where Everton should be,” Martinez is quoted as saying by The Guardian.

“We developed young players, gave them big roles and they reacted, and showed character, flair and drive in the biggest football arena.

“In the first season we had a [club] record number of points in the Premier League and in the second the experience of Europe. We gave young players big roles and have not invested money but managed assets.

“We were very unfairly stopped from being in the League Cup final and that never stopped us wanting to come to Wembley.

“There are signs in the three years I could have earned the opportunity to drive the club forward and I am sure we can fulfil our expectations. I am very much attached to it.”

A late Anthony Martial goal eliminated Everton from the FA Cup semi-finals at the hands of Manchester United on Saturday.

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West Ham are off to the Olympic Stadium next season and will be playing in front of 60,000 Hammers every other week from now on.

This move will surely cement the Irons’ place as one of England’s biggest clubs and Londoners have plenty of money to spend this summer to ease their transition. West Ham’s current transfer record fee is just £15m – paid for striker Andy Carroll – so surely Slaven Bilic could smash that, considering players will want to play at the Olympic Stadium and join West Ham on their quest for European football.

West Ham finished a very respectable 7th in the league in their last year at the Boleyn Ground, but will need to recruit some new stars in order to really compete. So here are FIVE players that West Ham could sign this summer and slaughter their transfer record…

Theo Walcott

Unfortunately for Theo Walcott, he has never really lived up to the potential many thought he had as a 16 year old arriving in north London in 2006.

10 years on, times have changed, Walcott is not even in England’s 26 man provisional squad for EURO 2016 after a poor season at the Emirates but there is no denying that Walcott’s pace, passing ability and shot conclude that Walcott is worth at least £20m and could be a great signing for West Ham this summer.

Alexandre Lacazette

Lacazette has had a tremendous season in France. The 24 year old has been scoring goals for fun in Ligue 1 and surely is capable of doing the same in the Premier League. Lacazette is still young and has plenty of years ahead of him to improve and score plenty more, but if he could match his goalscoring record of 21 goals this season at the Olympic Stadium, West Ham could be a real force next season. The Frenchman may cost in the region of £25m but he is worth the gamble.

Christian Benteke

Last striker here, like Walcott, Benteke didn’t quite manage to live up to his high expectations this season at Anfield. That said, Benteke is one of the most feared strikers in Europe when he is in form. In a poor season, Benteke still scored nine goals and grabbed three assists, however the Belgian managed 42 goals in his last three Premier League seasons at Aston Villa. He could cost around £20m and he would surely be worth it.

Georginio Wijnaldum

It’s a great shame that Newcastle United were relegated this season. Their fans definitely did not deserve the poor performances that the team gave them throughout this term and even despite Rafa Benitez’s revitalisation of the side, the Magpies may find it hard to keep hold of their stars such as Wijnaldum.

The Dutch midfielder won’t want to be playing in the Championship next season and if Bilic coughs up close to £20m, I am sure Newcastle will find it too hard to resist. Wijnaldum was one positive in a miserable season in the North East.

Andriy Yarmolenko

Yarmolenko has seemingly been linked with every Premier League club over the last few years, Everton were reported to have a deal with the Ukrainian but there have been no reports on that for months.

The 26 year old could be a perfect fit at West Ham and would bring tons of experience, pace, skill and goals to the West Ham side. If the Hammers bid £20m, Yarmolenko would surely be theirs.

Over the last few years, West Ham have gone from strength to strength, with last season’s campaign a particular highlight.

Slaven Bilic has built the London side into a real force in the Premier League, and that growth will no doubt continue going into the 2016/17.

With West Ham wanting to solidify themselves as a top 6 team in the League, they will no doubt be seeking some world class talent over the next few weeks as they look to bolster their squad to compete at the highest level; and they would be hard pressed to find a league more full with talent than the Premier League

Whilst transfers within the Premier League often carry inflated price tags, the main advantage they offer is that team’s can see how a player performs within the English league, rather than risking that on a foreign purchase.

Tottenham Hotspur has become a breeding ground for top quality talents in the Premier League, with the club’s scouting network excelling at bringing in outside talent to utilise or sell on. West Ham would be wise to look at their squad as they look to bring in proven, top quality talent.

With that, here are THREE players West Ham should cherry pick from Tottenham

Nacer Chadli

Starting off with a player that West Ham have seemingly already cherry picked; Nacer Chadli would be a great signing for West Ham.

We brought you the news in March that West Ham were after the Tottenham winger, with Bilic’s side keen to bolster their attacking options. The report suggested that the club would chase the winger during this summer, and whilst no move has reportedly come to fruition yet; there is still time.

Whilst Chadli is a fan favourite at Tottenham, increased competition for places have made his position in the first team less secure, and he could be looking for a way out as he seeks regular game time.  With West Ham keen to bolster their attacking line up, he could be the perfect acquisition for the London side.

With West Ham’s Olympic Stadium move well under way, a signing with the calibre of Chadli would be a great way to introduce new fans to the side.

With no updates on the transfer in recent weeks, we aren’t sure where this deal stands. But he would be an absolute star at West Ham.

Ryan Mason

Whilst West Ham would no doubt love to get their hands on a Tottenham star like Harry Kane, realistically that sort of transfer will never happen. Instead, the fast-improving London side will have to look at some of Tottenham more rotational talents in order to find players that might be more readily available.

One such star is Ryan Mason; a player that has always been on the cusp of greatness at Tottenham, but never really broken the ceiling into the first team.

The 2014/15 campaign was a standout one for the midfielder, whilst he was expected to kick on and cement himself throughout 2015 and 2016. Unfortunately for him, that didn’t happen, and he lost his spot in the team to Eric Dier and Moussa Dembele.

Mason’s future is a heavily debated topic at the minute, with some fans backing him for one more season; whilst others would like to see him given a chance elsewhere.

West Ham have been linked with a whole host of top central midfielders this summer, and whilst they have been unsuccessful so far; Ryan Mason does have the credentials to be a real performer for the side.

He has been heavily linked with a move to Bournemouth, but if that doesn’t pan out; he could definitely do a job at West Ham. He would never be a star of the side; but as he has shown at Tottenham he definitely has moments of brilliance.

For a low fee, it would be a no risk high reward type scenario for West Ham.

Son Heung-Min

The departure of Son Heung-Min would no doubt disappoint a lot of Tottenham fans, with the ex-Dortmund winger having impressed on a number of occasions over the last year or so – but if numerous reports, including this one from The Telegraph, are to be believed – Tottenham could be looking to sell the South Korean this summer.

A host of poor performances towards the tail end of the year, according to The Telegraph, sealed the fate of the talented attacker, and it seems that Tottenham might be keen to cut their losses.

Contrastingly, West Ham are reportedly in the market for attacking players, and if he is available cheaply – Son Heung-Min could be a real coup for the London side.

He showed moments of brilliance last year, so he definitely has the talent. He just needs to do it week in week out – and we would definitely back Bilic to be able to get the best out of him.

You can also not underestimate the importance of his nationality, with West Ham’s new stadium move giving the club lots of marketing opportunities worldwide.

It would be a risk, given that he was disappointing last season; but he has all the potential in the world – he just needs someone to bring the best out of him.

Like Mason, if he can be signed for a cheap fee – it would be a no risk high reward scenario for West Ham United.

Manchester United’s Paul Pogba hopes appear to have been handed a serious boost, with the Telegraph reporting that Real Madrid are set to up their interest in Newcastle’s Moussa Sissoko.

The 26-year-old was a part of the Magpies’ disappointing relegation campaign last term and has been roundly criticised for his lethargic displays as the North East club slipped into the Championship and subsequent vocalisation of his desire to leave St James’ Park.

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Although his Newcastle performances attracted much negativity, Sissoko still won a spot in France’s EURO 2016 squad and started for Les Bleus in the final in Paris – a game they lost to Portugal.

Subsequently a host of teams from across Europe have been aligned with the rangy midfielder, and reports claim that Real have highlighted the ex-Toulouse man as the player they will chase if the miss out on Pogba.

ESPN believe that the La Liga side have not yet given up on the 23-year-old, but with The Sun reporting that a £92m transfer to Man United has been agreed, it appears a matter of ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ in terms of the Juventus ace joining Jose Mourinho’s side.

Should Pogba move to Old Trafford, Real will launch a bid for Sissoko, who is, in terms of playing position and physicality, a like-for-like alternative.

Newcastle value their man at £35m, which is a huge sum considering their divisional status, but the Spaniards are hopeful a fee of closer to £30m will be enough.

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Stoke have started this season tentatively. Poor results have seen pressure grow on Mark Hughes already after they finished the previous campaign in a slump to end all slumps.

The Potters once looked set to become top six challengers last season but ended up settling for the mediocrity of mid-table once again.

Progress is there for all to see, yet it doesn’t seem to be a consistent path towards the European utopia.

This weekend they face a Tottenham side who have yet to find their rhythm this season. Like Stoke, Spurs suffered a dismal end to the previous campaign. The club crumbled under the pressure of Arsenal to relinquish fourth spot and quickly lost their initiative in the battle for North London supremacy. It’s a tired outcome, and the Gunners look favourites to succeed in that minor battle once again.

In the form of Harry Kane, Mauricio Pochettino has one of the best strikers in Europe. Unfortunately for Pochettino, Kane has looked out of sorts and there is a chasm between the striker we are seeing this season and the one that looked so magnificent last time around.

With both sides looking kind of shaky, you’d think this would be a relatively even contest. And it may well be just that.

Stoke are searching for a tactical identity, although they should be reinvigorated by the addition of Wilfried Bony, and Tottenham are looking for a spark to brighten up their play. That could be provided by the recently signed Moussa Sissoko. However, it is Dele Alli that should prove the key man in this clash.

Amid Stoke’s midfield quality, there is a shortage of a natural screening player. Glenn Whelan is in there to fulfil this role, but his forays up the field combined with the odd mistake can leave the Stoke defence exposed. His natural instinct is often not to protect the defence and he will face a swarm in central midfield, as Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela accompany Dele Alli in overloading the space between the lines.

Alli, who was far and away England’s best player from the bench against Slovakia, could prove to be the difference in this encounter. His ability to create with adventurous passes, supported by his goal record, will make him a tough prospect for this Stoke side.

He will attack areas they are vulnerable and might give Harry Kane the opportunity to return to his former self.

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What a difference 67 days make, after the incredible developments of the last few days the England national team once again finds itself without a permanent manager at the helm. The FA have to begin their search to find the next man to take charge of the Three Lions, and although Gareth Southgate has been trusted with the task for the next four matches, the question now is who will be the next man in the England hot seat?

Southgate now has, in effect, a four-match job interview which will finish in November when England face Spain in an international friendly. By then you would imagine that the FA will have made that all important decision as to whether Southgate gets the job full time or whether or not they decide to give the position to someone else.

And that someone else could be none other than current Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Before the appointment of Allardyce, Football Association Chairman Greg Clarke made no secret of his desire to try and tempt Wenger away from the Emirates Stadium and into the realm of international football, but the Frenchman, with still a year left to run on his contract, was not prepared to walk away early. Yet, if you were to ask the 66-year-old the same question at the end of the season then the answer may have changed.

In terms of the runners and riders for the England job, not much has changed from June when Roy Hodgson’s tenure ended after that embarrassing defeat to Iceland at EURO 2016. It’s still the same half dozen or so names who will once again be in the frame, and if truth be told it isn’t an inspiring list. Alan Pardew and Steve Bruce haven’t got the most glittering of CV’s when it comes to top level management, after all.

But if you were to add a name like Wenger’s to the list of candidates then it’s not unfair to say that the three-time Premier League winner would go straight to the top of the pile. Of course, there are a number of mitigating circumstances and the most obvious one would be whether or not the former Monaco manager would actually want to take the job, but it could almost be the perfect time for him to bow out from Arsenal and try his hand at winning a major international trophy.

International football management has long been the pursuit of the elder statesmen of the game and after being in charge of Arsenal through the breakneck pace of the Premier League for 20 years it would make perfect sense to take up an opportunity such as being England manager.

Wenger will have a job at Arsenal for life, should he want it, and even if he really did want the England job then you could quite easily envisage him, in a sense, taking a sabbatical from the London club to return as a Director of Football, later on. Dare I say it, he could even combine that with England duties due to not having the need of managing from week-to-week.

This is a man who knows English football inside out and if you look past what some may consider a stumbling block of him being non-English then he is without question the perfect candidate for the role. Southgate is quite capable of keeping the seat warm until June.

Let’s not forget that Southgate himself said he wasn’t ready to take the job when Roy Hodgson quit, but whether that mindset has changed remains to be seen.

Arsenal fans will now have a keen eye on the contract developments of Wenger over the next few months, as the longer he goes without signing the likelier a move to international management may become. Maybe this May really will be the end of an era for the Gunners and a start of a new one for England.

As we’ve seen a lot can happen in football in just the space of a day, even more, can happen over the space of a few months. Will Arsene say ‘au revoir’ to Arsenal and ‘bonjour’ to Wembley? Only time will tell.