Manchester City remain hopeful of persuading Pep Guardiola to STAY amid interest in making him the new England manager.

Guardiola is the Football Association’s dream target to succeed Gareth Southgate and lead the Three Lions at the 2026 World Cup in the USA.

England hoping to make six-time Premier League winner Guardiola their next England head coachGetty

The Spaniard was sounded out about the England job at the start of this season and has not ruled himself out of the running with his Man City contract expiring next summer.

However, talkSPORT understands City are relaxed about the FA’s approach and are willing to hand Guardiola a rolling contract whereby he can extend his deal a year at a time.

If Guardiola does decide to leave the champions, and he could make his decision as soon as next month.

Sources close to Ruben Amorim expect the Sporting Lisbon manager to be high on their list of potential replacements.

His current boss at Sporting, Hugo Viana, is coming in as City’s new director of football starting from next season, leading to the suggestions he could look to bring Amorim – previously a contender for the Liverpool job – with him to the Etihad Stadium.

Isak eyeing exit?

Alexander Isak has put clubs including Arsenal on red alert as he continues to stall on signing a new contract at Newcastle.

As previously reported in the Notebook, Isak has been in talks over a new deal at St James’ Park for several months but there is no obvious sign of progress in negotiations.

talkSPORT has been told the Swede is demanding a pay packet making him Newcastle’s top earner, as well as a release clause, in order to commit his future.

Arsenal have a long-standing interest in Isak, 25, and are expected to push to sign a new No.9 next summer with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko also on their shortlist.

Isak, who hit 21 Premier League goals last season, is under contract at St James’ Park until the summer of 2028.

Isak is a target for Arsenal amid his stalled contract talks at NewcastleGetty

Heading back home

Forgotten Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney could make an emotional return to former club Celtic.

Scotland international Tierney has been told he can leave north London in January and Celtic are understood to be monitoring his situation.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers has made no secret of his admiration of Tierney from his first spell with the Glasgow giants.

Tierney has not played since suffering a serious hamstring injury during Scotland’s draw with Switzerland at this summer’s European championships in Germany.

The 27-year-old played more than 100 SPL games for Celtic before a £25million move to Arsenal in the summer of 2019.

Great Dane departure

Christian Eriksen is unlikely to be staying at Manchester United beyond the end of this season despite his recent first-team revival, talkSPORT understands.

Eriksen has become one of under-pressure Erik ten Hag’s go-to men in recent weeks, starting six of United’s last seven games in all competitions, and scoring three goals.

Eriksen is set to leave Old Trafford at the end of the seasonGetty

But the Dane will be 33 by the time his contract runs out next summer and minority owners’ want to drive down the average age of the squad.

Old club Ajax would be very interested in re-signing Eriksen, who is also courting attention from clubs in the Saudi Pro League and the MLS.