Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has admitted for the first time he would be willing to manage England in the future if he had no club commitments.

Wenger has been linked with the England job following the Football Association’s decision to part company with Sam Allardyce on Tuesday.

Allardyce’s self-inflicted exit after his controversial comments to undercover reporters has left the FA searching for a new boss and they have appointed England Under-21 coach Gareth Southgate as interim manager to buy them time.

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Southgate will pick the team for England’s remaining four matches this year and could be persuaded to remain in charge until the end of the season if there was a chance to hire a top-class boss like Wenger.

The Frenchman’s contract with Arsenal expires at the end of the current campaign and there has been no confirmation yet of whether the 67-year-old will sign a new deal with the north Londoners.

Quizzed about the England job at a press conference on Friday, Wenger said: “My priority is to do well here. If I am free one day, why not?”