Harry Redknapp would attempt to entice Paul Scholes out of international retirement in order for him to start at Euro 2012 if, as expected, the 64-year-old becomes the England manager at the end of the domestic season. Redknapp also suggested that Steven Gerrard would be his England captain.

The Tottenham Hotspur manager will remain in his post until 13 May, when his club play their final fixture of the Premier League season, but he is then set to assume the England reins on a full-time basis, in time for Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine, which kicks off on 8 June, with an approach from the Football Association imminent.

The Tottenham chairman, Daniel Levy, will demand a high price in compensation for Redknapp, whom he does not want to lose, and there is the prospect of a lengthy wrangle, but the chairman must begin to plan for the longer-term without Redknapp. Everton's David Moyes features prominently on Levy's list of potential successors, and he may seek to talk to José Mourinho, Guus Hiddink and Didier Deschamps.

England have only one game before the end of the domestic season – the Wembley friendly against Holland on 29 February – and Stuart Pearce, the Under-21 manager, will take caretaker charge of the team.

Redknapp has continued to stress that his focus is on Tottenham's push for Champions League qualification and FA Cup success – they remain an outside bet for the Premier League title after Saturday's 5-0 home win over Newcastle United – but it is clear that he has begun to consider how he may do things as Fabio Capello's permanent successor in the England job.

Capello resigned on Wednesday, having felt undermined by the FA's decision to remove the England captaincy from John Terry. Hours earlier, Redknapp had been acquitted of tax evasion at Southwark crown court.

Redknapp has never hidden his admiration for Scholes, the Manchester United midfielder, who retired from international football in 2004. Capello offered him the opportunity to return for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa but Scholes declined, although he said that if Capello had asked him earlier and given him more time, he would probably have accepted. He admitted that saying no may have been a mistake.

Scholes retired altogether at the end of last season but he made a surprise comeback for United in the FA Cup win at Manchester City on 8 January and he has since appeared in every match for the club, winning praise for his performances. Redknapp would now like to see him go back on another retirement decision.

"Let's be honest, you would love to have Paul Scholes in the Euros this year," he said. "He'd be in your team, he's that good. Whoever's there would love to take him, I'm sure. You'd love him to play. He plays like the Spaniards, like Xavi [Hernández] or [Andrés] Iniesta. He does not give the ball away."

Redknapp could be expected to dismiss age as a concern in his England squad, having always seen the value in experienced players, and not only in relation to Scholes, who is 37. Redknapp was also praised Chelsea's Frank Lampard, 33, and Liverpool's Gerrard, 31.

"You need men in your side, you need characters if you are going to win anything," Redknapp said. "Frank is still a top player. You write Frank off at your peril. He's still a top player in my opinion. Stevie Gerrard is still a top-class player. We have got some good players in our midfield."

It was put to Redknapp that Scott Parker, his midfield general at Tottenham, could make an England captain, which he agreed with, but it sounded as though Gerrard would be his preference.

"I think there are some good candidates," Redknapp said. "Gerrard is a good candidate. Stevie Gerrard is a fantastic player. There are one or two who could do it. Scottie could do it, for sure, but so could Steve."