Anthony Gordon revealed how Thomas Tuchel, new England manager tried to persuade him to sign for Chelsea and “really made me want to play for him” in a post-match chat while he was still an Everton player.

Tuchel wanted to sign Gordon during the 2022 summer transfer window, with Chelsea make offer for player a little over a week later beat Everton on opening day of the season at Goodison Park.

It appears Tuchel has taken matters into his own hands, as Gordon said: “I spoke to him after the game, when I was playing for Everton and we were playing Chelsea.

“I spoke to him after the match and shook his hand. That was about it. He said some really complimentary things to me, which I will keep to myself. But yes, I spoke to him and I felt a lot of warmth from him, which then It really made me want to play for him. I wasn’t so lucky.

“It was pretty close to be honest. I desperately wanted to go there at that time and work with him, especially. I felt like my style would match his style of play, the way he played at Chelsea, which was very exciting for me. It was a great opportunity for me that ultimately didn’t come to fruition and I look forward to working with him a few years down the road.

Tuchel was sacked by Chelsea just a month after their opening day victory over Everton, but Gordon is looking forward to playing for him with England.

Asked if he could have imagined Tuchel would later become England manager, a role the German officially begins on January 1, Gordon replied: “No, definitely not. He was doing it so well at Chelsea at that time that it’s hard to imagine what will happen in the future.

Tuchel played with a back three and wingers at Chelsea, and it was suggested he tried to convert Gordon to a left-back at Stamford Bridge.

Gordon was unaware of such a plan, but would be happy to test himself in the position if Tuchel asked him to play as a winger for England.

“I wasn’t aware of it,” Gordon said. “I never really talked to him in depth about that kind of thing. I don’t really care where I play. As long as I’m on the field, I feel like I can play. That’s what I really want to do: perform at a high level. So if he wants to play me there, I’d be more than happy to do that.

Tuchel had no say in Lee Carsley’s squad for his final matches as caretaker manager and will not be in Athens or Wembley to watch the Greece and Republic of Ireland matches Ireland.

Asked if he was surprised Tuchel wasn’t in attendance, Gordon replied: “Not really, I think he can watch the games wherever he is in the world, which I’m sure he can. ‘he will do. He will want to take a look at the team and players available at that time. So no, that doesn’t surprise me.

Gordon, however, rejected the suggestion that he and the rest of the England squad would use the two Nations League games to try to impress Tuchel.

“I wouldn’t say (we’ll try to put in a performance) for the new manager, to be honest. Because it’s way too far in the future and we need to be present for what lies ahead,” Gordon said.

“We are facing a team from Greece who recently i just fought. And we still have Lee at the helm who we need to impress. He’s still the manager, so I think we’re just focusing on the here and now and getting this game back on track from the last time we played them.