Thomas Tuchel
February 2026
Tuchel says Bellingham is pushing to be fit for March, but England may be forced to decide late given reports his hamstring issue could keep him out for longer than first expected. Tuchel says Real Madrid are more cautious on timelines, England are in contact, and he is optimistic but not sure. The implication is he might have to select without full proof of fitness.
Raheem Sterling
January 2026
Chelsea confirmed Sterling has left the club by mutual agreement and will look for a new club in January after not featuring this season. He fell out of favour, was placed in the “bomb squad” under Maresca, then loaned to Arsenal in 2024-25 with little impact and returned in summer before an exit was agreed; Rosenior avoided detailing his situation publicly.
Morgan Gibbs-White
January 2026
Collymore argues Gibbs-White should be in England’s World Cup plans despite stiff competition for attacking midfield spots, claiming he offers a different profile and proven Premier League output. Gibbs-White has six caps and has featured under Tuchel but was omitted from the latest squad and has not played in the last three matches. Collymore believes squad balance and Tuchel’s striker choices could squeeze midfield places, so Gibbs-White must be protected.
Jack Grealish
January 2026
Reports say Grealish has a suspected stress fracture in his foot that could sideline him for months, threatening his season momentum and World Cup plans. He is expected to see a specialist to confirm severity. The setback could hurt his case for Tuchel’s England squad and complicate Everton’s potential permanent move, despite a productive loan spell of two goals and six assists in 22 appearances.
Jamie Carragher
January 2026
Carragher said Carrick should not be considered for the permanent United job, arguing he lacks the elite level needed to win the Premier League. He compared Carrick to Rosenior as managers unlikely to topple top-tier rivals, then selected a shortlist of Nagelsmann, Tuchel, Luis Enrique, and Howe, with Tuchel singled out as having the edge and confrontational drive to reset a drifting club.
Didi Hamann
January 2026
Hamann says United should prioritise Tuchel as the next permanent manager, arguing he has the authority and edge to reset standards, even with Luis Enrique also being linked. The pitch is that Tuchel brings proven big-club management, cuts through politics, and focuses on winning over reputations, but timing is awkward because United may need to choose before the World Cup while Tuchel is focused on England.
Michael Carrick
January 2026
Neville says Carrick should not be considered for the permanent United role beyond this season, even if results improve. Neville argues United need a proven, experienced manager and named Mauricio Pochettino, Thomas Tuchel, and Carlo Ancelotti as options to consider in the summer.
Jude Bellingham
January 2026
Gordon Strachan defended Jude Bellingham and said both Xabi Alonso and Thomas Tuchel need to protect him amid ongoing criticism around his behaviour for England. The midfielder has become a focal point for scrutiny at international level. Strachan echoed Ian Wright’s stance that controversy is being manufactured around Bellingham, and argued leadership from club and country must shield him while keeping standards high. The message is that the noise should not be allowed to define him.
Eberechi Eze
November 2025
Former Tottenham manager Tim Sherwood insists Eberechi Eze has to start for England at the World Cup if Thomas Tuchel uses a number 10, arguing the Arsenal playmaker is now the country’s best attacking midfielder after his hat-trick in the 4-1 rout of Spurs. Eze, who joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace in a big summer move, said he had prayed for a derby hat-trick and was grateful to deliver in such a statement win. Arteta hailed the performance and control as Arsenal dominated Spurs, reinforcing Eze’s case for a central England role.
