Leeds United specialist dismisses hijack claim over Rodgers
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The Yorkshire Evening Post has played down the prospects of Leeds United making an offer for Brendan Rodgers.
Since the weekend some momentum has build towards the Irishman replacing Ange Postecoglou at Celtic but a deal is far from certain.
Leeds went through three managers last season as they were relegated from the EPL with a change in ownership and big plans in place to ensure a rapid return to the big time.
Rodgers’ CV and current availability are bound to have been discussed at some level but just before 9am this morning The Yorkshire Evening Post reports:
Reports of a last-ditch Leeds United attempt to hijack Brendan Rodgers’ expected Celtic return are wide of the mark.
Rodgers’ managerial ability has long been admired at Elland Road and when thoughts turned to this summer’s appointment his was a name that featured prominently.
But the YEP understands that while Rodgers has not definitively turned the role down, nor has he met with the Whites and thus far hasn’t appeared keen on a return to the English second tier.
Leeds have been aware since the beginning of their manager hunt that Rodgers’ priority was a top flight opportunity. The Premier League has always felt like the Northern Irishman’s likeliest destination. Job openings in the Autumn are almost a certainty and Rodgers’ initial plan was thought to be a hiatus over the summer before he explored his options.
But his history with Celtic and a route back to the Premier League via the Scottish Premiership, one he has travelled before and one further evidenced by Steven Gerrard and Ange Postecoglou’s appointments by Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur, seem to have drawn him back to the game earlier than planned. Leeds’ recruitment process has moved to the interview stage this week.
According to the Daily Mail detailed negotiations have taken place between Rodgers and Dermot Desmond as all sides attempt to resolve the issues that led to Leicester City in February 2019.
It seems that Desmond has taken complete control of bringing in Postecoglou’s successor with CEO Michael Nicholson in a support role ahead of managing the relationship on a day-to-day basis.