How did Brendan Rodgers react to Newcastle’s approach as he eyed a competitive job

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The Magpies’ new owners have identified Rodgers as their top target (Image: GETTY)

Leicester City boss Brendan Rodgers will reportedly reject any approach from Newcastle United as he believes he is in a line to succeed Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.

Magpies was bought by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund last week and now has the richest owners in world football, with the club’s new hierarchy keen to quickly transform the team into a title contender.

High on his priority list is a new manager, with Steve Bruce set to be sacked ahead of this week’s Premier League clash with Tottenham.

Bruce may have coached Newcastle for the last time (Image: GETTY)

Several high-profile names have been linked with the job, including serial title winner Antonio Conte, Brighton boss Graham Potter and former Borussia Dortmund coach Lucien Favre.

But reports surfaced on Wednesday claiming Leicester boss Rodgers is Newcastle’s preferred option and that they are willing to pay £16m to release him from his contract.

Unfortunately for the Magpies, the Daily Mail reports that the Northern Irishman will discard any approach from St James’ Park and look forward to a bigger job in the future.

More: Premier League

Guardiola is expected to step down as Manchester City manager when his contract expires in 2023 and Rodgers realizes he is one of the main contenders to replace the Spaniard.

The former Celtic and Liverpool boss is highly rated by the City hierarchy who feels his impressive coaching ability would be a good fit for the team and the foundations Guardiola will leave.

Rodgers to monitor City’s job in 18 months (Image: GETTY)

But a move to Newcastle would wreck Rodgers’ hopes of a City trophy, while he is said to be fully committed to Leicester despite a difficult start to the season and some recent recruitment issues.

In the meantime, the Newcastle owners are not willing to put too much pressure on a rival manager in the Premier League in what could be a ‘politically devastating’ move so early in their tenure, although they consider Rodgers the best man for the job.

Meanwhile, Bruce is expected to be relieved of his duties on Thursday, when the team will have a day off, and first-team coach Graeme Jones is likely to be appointed on a temporary assignment for the Tottenham game.

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