Julian Nagelsmann has reportedly been told to resign as head coach by German Football Association bosses following their shock World Cup exit.

Nagelsmann was summoned to a three-hour meeting at the DFB’s headquarters in Frankfurt on Thursday, according to German outlet BILD.

The 38-year-old was reportedly given the opportunity to explain his views on Germany’s elimination to Paraguay, having lost 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw.

Nagelsmann was then said to have been questioned over his tactical decisions, as well as a ‘family and friends atmosphere’ around the national team’s base during the tournament in Winston-Salem.

The report claims Nagelsmann was told to consider resigning voluntarily from his position, with bosses said to want him to depart with his ‘head held high’.

The DFB would reportedly give Nagelsmann a €7million (£6m) pay-off if he was to resign, with his exit considered a ‘done deal’.

The report stated that Nagelsmann has been given until the start of next week to decide whether he will resign.

Nagelsmann, who is contracted until the end of Euro 2028, had previously insisted he would not step down following their World Cup exit.

'I'm not someone who runs away. I'm available if that's what the DFB wants. If they don't want me, they need to tell me. I want to continue,' Nagelsmann said after the loss to Paraguay.

'In football, you don't have complete control. If the DFB wants me to, I'd be happy to prepare for the Euros and the Nations League. If they don't want me to, they need to say it.'

Concerns had been raised during Germany's World Cup campaign over the presence of Nagelsmann's girlfriend Lena Wurzenberger being around the camp.

Wurzenberger, 34, had become a talking point having been a 'constant presence' around the camp.

The former journalist was first spotted at Germany's pre-tournament camp in Frankfurt, when she was pictured watching training from a balcony along with a host of the players' partners.

Wurzenberger was then seen watching Germany's substitutes complete their warm down after their 7-1 win over Curacao in their opening match.

It was then reported that she accompanied Nagelsmann back to the team hotel, before the duo were seen cycling to training together the following morning.

'There is naturally always that feeling that when the boss's wife is in the room, you might not always be completely honest at the table when talking about the national coach,' reporters had speculated.

Former Germany captain Lothar Matthaus then claimed team disputes had been caused by players' wives and girlfriends, suggesting squad members had been distracted by attempting to arrange travel for their family.

'There's a lot to process, both on and off the pitch. Wives, families, everyone was involved. Lots of headlines.

'I don't know why you have to involve all the families right from the start.

'Then it's about travel options, about hotel bookings. That was all a topic within the team. It never appeared in the media, but I know it was a topic of discussion.

'One player was angry with another because one player's mother was allowed to fly along, while another's wife and children were allowed to fly. The others had to take a commercial flight.'

Matthaus, who did not name anyone involved, suggested serious consideration needs to be made into the handling of families at future tournaments.

He suggested families should be flown out by the national team at the latter stages of tournaments when the team have enjoyed success, after claiming girlfriends and wives had treated this World Cup as 'free family days'.

'Ultimately, there was a lot of unrest, which didn't come across,' Matthaus said.

'But despite all that, the focus simply wasn't on this World Cup. It was always a free family day and another free family day.

'They weren't even in America for two weeks and already all their families were there again. They can fly in for the quarter-finals if the team has achieved something.'