England close on deal for Capello

FABIO CAPELLO flew home to Italy last night knowing his next trip to London would almost certainly mark his coronation as England manager.

Capello, the number one target of Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick and director of football development Trevor Brooking, was involved in intense and prolonged discussions over the possibility of succeeding Steve McClaren.

And, on the basis the job would be 61-year-old Capello’s unless something went disastrously wrong during the interview process, the only conclusion to be drawn is that England will soon have an Italian in charge.

“Brian Barwick and Trevor Brooking have held talks with Fabio Capello in London,” said FA director of communications Adrian Bevington.

“These discussions were extremely positive and without any problems.

“Fabio has t returned to Italy to honour a prior commitment. Further talks are now taking place between Fabio’s advisors and ourselves.”

With Capello no longer part of the negotiating process, it seems only the finer points of a contract set to take in the entire 2010 World Cup qualifying need to be thrashed out.

Barwick and Brooking will then present their recommendation to the FA Board, with Capello just waiting for a call for an official unveiling that should take place early next week at the absolute latest and probably before.

With nine league titles on an impressive CV encompassing spells at Juventus, AC Milan and Real Madrid, Capello has proved his credentials at the very highest level.

His age and background also means he is far less susceptible to the lures of a European giant, as seems to have been the case with Mourinho, a point that would no doubt have been made quite forcefully by Alex Ferguson in his meeting with Barwick and Brooking.

Ferguson carries plenty of weight in the English game and in so forcefully commending the appointment of Capello yesterday — a view backed by that of Arsene Wenger — he virtually confirmed Capello’s appointment.

The Italian will return home for the festive period before returning to England in the New Year.

His first official task will be to head the FA delegation at a World Cup fixtures meeting due to take place in Zagreb in mid-January.

He will then discuss England’s summer plans before finalising the squad for his first game in charge against Switzerland at Wembley on February 6.

David Beckham, who he dropped and reinstated at Real Madrid last season, will almost certainly be included for his 100th cap.

However, the FA have already declared they have no intention of advising Capello about his captain.

Meanwhile Sol Campbell has admitted he is weighing up his international future. Campbell is considering devoting all attention to Portsmouth’s bid for a European place.

Campbell said: “I don’t want to go through a situation again where I was out of the squad for such a long time.” Campbell, with 73 caps, was axed at the start of McClaren’s reign in 2006 before being recalled in the autumn.