Eriksson keen on English return with Pompey

Sven Goran Eriksson has indicated that he is prepared to take over as manager of Portsmouth should he be sacked by Mexico after today's World Cup qualifier against the United States. The match is to be played in Columbus, Ohio, with the Mexican Football Federation set to bring an abrupt end to Eriksson's time as coach should he lose.

If the Swede is not appointed, then Portsmouth are likely to turn again to Avram Grant who had been lined up for the post prior to Tony Adams's sacking. However some of the senior players at Portsmouth have indicated that they would be unhappy if the Israeli, who was formerly the club's director of football, is given the job. They believe he does not have sufficient stature to carry the club forward.

At the same time, Grant is believed to have backed off following the sacking of Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea in the hope that he may make an unlikely return, on a temporary basis at least, to Stamford Bridge.

However it has become clear that his best chance of a return to Premier League football is if Portsmouth cannot reach an agreement with Eriksson who, if a deal can be sealed quickly, could face his former club Manchester City at Fratton Park on Saturday.

Eriksson would not come cheap. He would also, if he is sacked by Mexico, want to sort out his severance deal before accepting another post, but there has undoubtedly between contact and Portsmouth have been led to believe that he may be persuaded to join them. The carrot of a seven-figure bonus should Portsmouth avoid relegation may have swayed negotiations.

Eriksson, who turned 61 last week, has struggled since taking charge of Mexico who are in danger of failing to qualify for next year's World Cup finals.