Capello lined up to take over as Russia boss

Just when England appeared to be back on an even keel it has emerged that the man at the helm is being lined up by Russia to take over as their national coach.

The Russian Football Union recently parted company with Guus Hiddink and are now looking for a replacement. The efficient streak that Capello has somehow instilled in a previously flaky England team has not gone unnoticed beyond these shores and Russia wants to tempt the Italian to Moscow after the World Cup.

Their courtship of Capello has already begun and it is reported that the Italian has spoken to Sergei Fursenko, the head of the Russian Football Union, twice in recent weeks. It has been claimed that the pair met face-to-face at Stamford Bridge during Chelsea's 4-2 defeat against Manchester City.

The Russians want a disciplinarian coach after the problems they experienced in World Cup qualification. They are also prepared to offer Capello more money than he receives for managing England. His deal with the FA is said to be worth £6m a year, including bonuses. Hiddink was earning £6.3m a year, and was taking a lot more of it home than Capello does because of the Russian tax system. Indeed, some observers believe that by moving to Russia, Capello could double his money.

However, the Italian is contracted to the FA until 2012 and is said to be enjoying masterminding England's World Cup campaign.

The FA have dismissed the rumours out of hand and with the Russians eyeing up between four and seven other candidates it seems that there is little danger of the Italian jumping ship just yet.

The question is how Capello will feel in the summer after all the tabloid hysteria that comes with a World Cup and enduring the brickbats that will be hurled at him should the unthinkable happen, and his charges fail to outclass the likes of Brazil and Spain. ·