Football Association chief Brian Barwick will speak to a number of leading figures in the game in his search for what former England coach Sven Goran Eriksson has described as the biggest job in world football.
Barwick has already discussed possible candidates with England captain John Terry, Wales coach John Toshack, Uefa chief Michel Platini and German legend Franz Beckenbauer.
Barwick is reported to have told a meeting of FA directors on Thursday that he was determined to get a manager with a world-class reputation.
Recently-departed Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho is the current favourite for the job.
Former England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson, now in charge of Manchester City, said he could understand the appeal of Mourinho but warned he would be taking on “the biggest job in football”.
“Mourinho has already shown that he is big with Porto and with Chelsea, so if he has been winning trophies for them, he can do it with England as well,” said Eriksson.
“But to be the England manager you must win every game, not do anything in your private life and hopefully not earn too much money.
“They are the only qualities you need and if you have those, you are perfect.
“I don’t want to say that I am supporting Mourinho because I support everyone and it is not my job. But the biggest football job in Europe and in the world is to be the England manager.
“The Champions League is big and it is fantastic, but to compare it to the World Cup? No chance. The World Cup is, and will be forever, the number one.”
Steve McClaren was sacked following England’s failure to qualify for Euro 2008.
