Jordan Pickford says speculation over Gareth Southgate’s future makes “no difference” to an England squad fully focused on winning the European Championship.
Having reached the World Cup semi-finals and quarter-finals either side of finishing as Euro 2020 runners-up, the team are favourites to be crowned continental champions this summer.
Euro 2024 could well be Southgate’s fourth and final tournament in charge, with the former England defender’s Football Association contract expiring at the end of the year.
The 53-year-old says contract talks are on the back burner as his focus is on glory in Germany, but background noise has increased this week following talk of Manchester United’s potential interest.
Asked what difference speculation about Southgate’s immediate future makes, England goalkeeper Pickford told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I think there’s no difference. I think there’s one goal and that’s to win a European trophy.
“Us as players, and I think the manager and the staff, that’s all our goal is, to be focused on winning the European Championship.
“I think all the noise around anything else will probably come after that.”
Southgate handed Pickford his England debut in November 2017 and made him number one heading into the following year’s World Cup in Russia.
“His character has not changed,” the 58-cap goalkeeper said. “He’s a top man manager and he’s got a great set of staff around him.
“The training’s always good with the manager and everything we do is good.”
Southgate is currently working with Pickford and his team-mates ahead of England’s friendlies against Brazil and Belgium, when the Everton goalkeeper could be joined on the pitch by some familiar faces.
Anthony Gordon came through the ranks at Goodison Park and has gone on, in Pickford’s opinion, to become Newcastle’s best player this season.
The 23-year-old was part of the England side that won last summer’s Under-21 European Championship, as was highly-rated Toffees centre-back Jarrad Branthwaite.
“He’s been really good, a bit of a Rolls Royce,” Pickford said of the defender after his first senior call-up. “He’s calm and he makes the right decisions as well.
“He’s been quality this season and it’ll be a massive honour for him and his family to get called up for England, but fully deserved as well, I would say.”
Gordon, Branthwaite and fellow new boy Kobbie Mainoo are desperate to make their England debuts in a camp Ben White opted not to join.
The Arsenal defender went to the last Euros and World Cup, but Southgate revealed last week that he does not currently want to be selected by the national team.
White left Qatar early due to “personal reasons” and reports emerged of a fall-out between him and assistant Steve Holland, although the England boss last week stressed there was “never any issue” between them.
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Asked about White’s decision to snub an England recall, Pickford said: “Nothing’s been said. We just crack on as normal.
“That’s his own decision and you never know what’s happening at home, so you can’t really judge anyone I would say.
“But, for me, I love nothing more than wearing the England shirt and when I get the opportunity I grab it with both hands, which I’ve done for the last six, seven years.
“There’s not a better buzz than putting the England shirt on.”
Leicester City seal automatic Premier League return
Leicester City are once more a Premier League team, having bounced straight back after relegation last season.
The Foxes secured automatic promotion without kicking a ball, as title rivals Leeds United lost 4-0 away to Queens Park Rangers on Friday.
Marti Cifuentes' Hoops side gave their fans a reason to cheer in their final home game of the season, and the emphatic win means they are now seven points clear of the relegation zone.
The Hoops boss told BBC Sport: "I came here, perhaps I was crazy thinking we could manage the great escape.
"The atmosphere has been unbelievable since I came here. Everybody thought tonight could be a special night to achieve our target.
"Big players deliver big performances and our players all did that tonight."
Defeat ensured only Ipswich Town can now finish above Leicester, meaning the Foxes will be back in the big time.
Ipswich, who have three games left to play, face play-off hopefuls Hull City on Saturday.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Leeds boss Daniel Farke said: "It's not in our hands any more [automatic promotion], we need to be honest.
"The race is not over. If Ipswich win the next two games then I will say congratulations, but if they don’t win them then we will have a lot to play for.
"As long as we have a chance, I’m far away from giving up."
Leicester could be crowned champions if they beat Preston North End on Monday and if Hull beat Ipswich.
The Foxes are looking to break the 100-point barrier, despite a wobble from Enzo Maresca's side in recent months.
After they had been so far ahead and top for all but two of the 176 days between 23 September and 17 March, an untimely dip in form handed Leeds and Ipswich hope.
However, while Leicester celebrate their promotion, they face the daunting prospect of starting next season with a points deduction, after they were charged by the Premier League with alleged breaches of the competition's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
Nashville SC v San Jose Earthquakes: ‘A win would change everything’ - Godoy
Anibal Godoy insists that Nashville are already looking at their game against San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday as a must-win.
Nashville have won just once in the MLS this season and sit in 14th place in the Eastern Conference after a run of four without a win.
The Earthquakes, meanwhile, are bottom of the Western Conference having lost eight of their matches and recording just one win.
Godoy is aware of how their poor start to the season could affect their playoff hopes later down the line but is confident that Nashville can turn things around.
He said: “For us, it's an important week. It's a day we have to win, or we'll start to feel the pressure from other teams as they start to separate in the table.
“This league is long but if we want to get to the playoff you have to win games early on, especially at home.”
Liverpool agree compensation deal for Slot
Liverpool and Feyenoord have reached an agreement in principle over a compensation deal for Arne Slot to become the Reds’ manager next season, according to widespread Dutch media reports.
The Dutchman is reportedly poised to take over from Jurgen Klopp, who announced in January that he would be leaving the club at the end of the campaign.
Slot led Feyenoord to their second Eredivisie title last season after taking over the club in 2021.
It is believed that he topped the list of Liverpool’s favoured candidates due to his attacking playing style and ability to develop players.
Former Liverpool midfielder, Xabi Alonso, who led Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title, and Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim were also reported contenders to take over from Klopp.
Slot had already confirmed his interest in managing in the Premier League, both earlier this week and previously when he was linked to Tottenham in 2023.
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