Tuchel Open to Picking Players Outside Premier League for England

England manager Thomas Tuchel has said he would not rule out selecting players who are playing outside the Premier League for the national team.

Tuchel made the comment amid uncertainty over the possible sanctions facing Manchester City following the club’s guilty verdict in a long-running Premier League financial regulations case.

An independent commission found Manchester City guilty of breaches relating to the period between the 2009-10 and 2017-18 seasons. The club has denied the allegations and appealed against the verdict, while sanctions have yet to be determined.

Asked whether he would select England players whose clubs were no longer in the top flight, Tuchel said league status would not automatically prevent a player from being considered.

“There is always a possibility,” the England manager said.

Tuchel explained that his priority would be selecting the strongest squad for each camp, match and tournament, regardless of the division in which a player’s club competes.

He said decisions would be made on a case-by-case basis, meaning players outside the Premier League could still receive international call-ups if their performances warranted selection.

The issue has become particularly relevant because several England players are currently contracted to Manchester City, including Marc Guehi and Elliot Anderson. Nico O’Reilly was also part of the squad before returning to his club because of an injury.

Tuchel also acknowledged that Manchester City’s legal situation had become a major topic of discussion within the England camp, although he said the players remained focused on their international duties.

England are preparing to face Croatia in the Nations League in Rijeka as Tuchel continues to assess his options ahead of upcoming international fixtures.