The prospect of Gareth Southgate departing the England hotseat is not the elephant in the room it once was.
FA chiefs are conscious of the uncertainty and taking seriously the possibility that Southgate will saunter into the sunset after next summer's European Championship in Germany.
There were similar vibes before last year's World Cup when Eddie Howe, Graham Potter and Mauricio Pochettino were all considered in the event of Southgate standing down.
The dream appointment of some at the FA is Pep Guardiola — an option officials are open to exploring.