Sarina Wiegman in final stages of talks to become England Women manager

The Holland Women manager Sarina Wiegman is in the final stages of talks with the Football Association to become the new England head coach and could be announced as early as Friday, Telegraph Sport understands.

The 50-year-old emerged as the governing body’s preferred candidate earlier this week over the two-time World Cup winning US coach Jill Ellis, despite the Dutch Football Association, the KNVB, having held preliminary discussions with Wiegman about her future.

Phil Neville announced his intention to resign from the post in April, after the coronavirus pandemic saw the 2020 Olympics and the 2021 Euros, which England are set to host, pushed back to 2021 and 2022 respectively — beyond the dates of his contract, which is set to expire in July 2021.

It is unclear who is set to manage the composite Great Britain side at next summer’s Games and there remains a possibility that it could be Neville if Wiegman does not wish to take on the role. As the performance lead for Olympic football, the English FA are tasked with selecting the Team GB manager but it does not have to be the current England head coach.

The KNVB said in a statement to Sky Sports: "We never comment in cases where our coaching staff have been linked to other clubs/associations.

"The only thing we can say from our perspective is that the KNVB and Sarina spoke about her future after the OG 2021 [Olympic Games, when her contract will end] before the summer holidays have started.

"After the holiday period, they — Sarina and our board — will follow this up in a new meeting."

Former Holland midfielder Wiegman oversaw her country’s 2017 European Championship-winning team and was in charge of the side that lost to the US in the World Cup final last summer. She had only been the coach of the national team since January 2017 when they won their first major honour in women’s football, having spent several years as the Holland assistant and interim coach.