and Luke Shaw admit England’s players have tapping each other up ahead of a busy summer transfer window.
Several members of England’s current squad, including , , Harry Maguire, Conor Gallagher and Kyle Walker, are expected to be on the move this summer.
Southgate, meanwhile, acknowledges that his England players have been speaking to each other about potential transfers but has warned his squad that they must avoid becoming frustrated over the length of negotiations.
Asked if he has spoken to his players about refraining from talking about potential transfers this summer, Southgate said: ‘I haven’t felt the need to say anything.
‘The players are tapping each other up anyway on the quiet. I can’t do anything about that but these things run their course, they happen in their own time. You can’t force it as a player, you’ve got to accept it.
‘Don’t get frustrated, don’t be asking all summer, you don’t need to be updated on every call that happens. There’s a lot of negotiation goes on. I remember as a player getting too wrapped up in every detail of that, and in the end there is only a small amount you can actually control.
‘I think all of those things will happen later on in the summer. The players understand that and they know the focus for the next 36 hours is this game, finishing the season well, making sure we’re sat on 12 points. We’ll be in a very healthy position if we do that.’
Shaw, meanwhile, whilst on England duty this week as he posted pictures of himself alongside Harry Kane and Rice – two key targets for Manchester United this summer – with the caption, ‘Carrington tour’ and an eyes emoji.
England have been using United’s Carrington training base ahead of their Euro 2024 qualifier against North Macedonia on Monday evening.
When Shaw was asked which player he has tapped up in England’s camp, Shaw replied with a smile: ‘There’s a few.’
Asked directly if he’s spoken to Mason Mount, who is another United target but is not in England’s current squad due to injury, Shaw said: ‘Yeah, obviously he’s not here.
‘I think it’s all just a bit of banter really, obviously we have a joke and a laugh about it.
‘I am not too sure what goes on behind the scenes, it’s to do with the club really. But of course when we’re here and together we have a joke about it but like I said I don’t know too much what’s going on.’
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