…only problem is, he’s currently employed. From the Independent’s Sam Wallace.
Luiz Felipe Scolari is on the brink of being announced as the new England manager after it emerged last night that the Brazilian is in talks with the Football Association about the best way to handle his defection from the Portuguese Football Federation.
Scolari (above), 57, is under contract to Portugal until after the World Cup finals, but has publicly announced that he will not accept another job until after that competition. The FA is trying to find a way out of that agreement which is acceptable to all parties.
Negotiations are at such an advanced stage that the FA hopes to find a way that is acceptable to Scolari and does not undermine his authority as the Portugal coach and allows for a smooth transition after the World Cup finals in July.
The FA has set a budget of around £2.5m a year for the new manager’s salary but they could well be prepared to go higher to accommodate the inconvenience to Scolari, who could face criticism in Portugal for his decision.