World champion Mertesacker offers himself to German football

Former Germany defender Per Mertesacker says he is willing to take on a job at the German Football Federation (DFB).

A member of the 2014 World Cup-winning squad, Mertesacker also has a background in youth football having run Arsenal's academy for eight years.

Jürgen Klopp looks poised to replaced Julian Nagelsmann following Germany's early World Cup exit, while DFB managing director for sport Andreas Rettig is also leaving in December.

"Somehow working for the DFB one day, giving something back to German football that I also owe so much to - if that is wanted - I am of course available for that," the 41-year-old Mertesacker told ZDF, where he is a pundit for the World Cup.

It remains unclear whether Rudi Völler will stay on as sporting director at the DFB.