BRENDAN RODGERS will reportedly reject any approach to take charge of Newcastle as he holds out on succeeding Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.
The Leicester boss has been linked with the Magpies job should Steve Bruce be sacked following their recent £300million takeover.
Rodgers is among the favourites to become the Toon gaffer, with a managerial change at St James’ Park reportedly just a matter of time.
But according to the Daily Mail, the 48-year-old will resist interest from Newcastle as he is in the frame to replace Guardiola.
The Spaniard only has 18 months left to run on his contract at the Etihad.
And Guardiola has announced that he will take a break after his deal expires before looking to secure a job at a national team.
It has been claimed that Rodgers is on the shortlist to succeed the ex-Barcelona boss.
The Mail have also stated that the Northern Irishman was in the running to become City’s boss in 2013 following the departure of Roberto Mancini.
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Despite guiding Rodgers to FA Cup glory last season, Rodgers is understood to be open to a move away should the right opportunity arrive.
And should he be appointed at City, he would have more say in the recruitment of players than he does with the Foxes, the Mail alleges.
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy believes Newcastle should stick with Bruce as sacking him may not be the best short-term option.
He told talkSPORT: “You’ve got to be careful not to try and run before you can walk. The situation Newcastle are in now is precarious.
“They’ve got a manager in charge at the moment who has been there and done it in the lower echelons of the Premier League and dealt with that scenario before – even at Newcastle.
“Is there somebody out there who they can bring in who is going to be more equipped than Steve Bruce? That is ultimately the question.
“You can talk about the pleasing of the fans and the masses. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you quickly get Bruce out and get someone in to do it better.
“I think they will get rid because that’s what the fans want and they are trying to keep everybody happy at the moment with the takeover.
“Who do they get in? There is no obvious candidate to come in for a relegation battle.
“There is a different conversation if you are asking me are there managers out there who are capable of working with new players, spending money and competing.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
