Arsene Wenger could shun the England team because it will not quench his ‘obsession’ with football, according to Arsenal coach Robert Pires.
Wenger is out of contract at Arsenal next summer and the Football Association are prepared to wait until then to make sure they get the right man for England.
Gareth Southgate has taken temporary charge for four matches but Wenger is a priority target to take over the job on a permanent basis.
The position is vacant since Sam Allardyce left his role after only 67 days when he was secretly filmed using his new position to negotiate a £400,000 deal with businessmen and offered them advice on how to get around Football Association transfer rules.