Celtic’s Scottish Premiership winning manager Brendan Rodgers has been tipped to replace Rafa Benitez at Newcastle United.
Celtic endured their worst start to a league season for 20 years, were dumped out of the Champions League in the qualifying rounds and there have been plenty of rumours about a dispute between manager Brendan Rodgers and chief executive Peter Lawwell.
But, rest assured, the Hoops will not let their manager leave without a fight amid claims that Rodgers is being targeted by clubs south of the border – including Newcastle United.
The Scottish Sun reports that Newcastle have identified the former Liverpool and Swansea manager as a potential replacement for Rafa Benitez, who has picked up just two points from a possible 27 in a dismal start to the Premier League campaign.
But, according to the Shields Gazette, the chances of Rodgers replacing Benitez look slim.
It is claimed that Celtic will demand a massive compensation fee of £9 million to lure Rodgers away from Parkhead – a figure that has put Newcastle off.
Owner Mike Ashley has backed Benitez to turn Newcastle’s fortunes around, the Gazette adds, and is unlikely to turn to Rodgers even if the Spaniard was sacked given that he has never before paid a compensation fee to buy out a manager’s contract.
Rodgers has also been linked with Leicester City and Spartak Moscow but it seems that he will be staying at Celtic for the time being.
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