ACCORDING to reports in the U.K. and Ireland, Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers has agreed to hold talks with Fenway Sports Group about the vacant managerial post at Anfield. Rodgers, who had initially rejected the opportunity to be interviewed for fear of alienating the Swansea supporters should his application have been unsuccessful, is believed to have reversed his decision after a second approach from Liverpool’s principal owners.
FSG, who are believed to have thought that the Ulsterman would have been likely to change his stance in the event of a second approach, have been proven correct and will now meet with Rodgers this week. Rodgers was in New York on Sunday evening, according to the Belfast Telegraph, to see Mexico’s 2-0 friendly defeat of Wales, but the paper also states that the visit was arranged two months ago and had nothing to do with the situation at Liverpool.
Swansea are believed to have agreed a club record £7.2 million fee with Hoffenheim for the services of Gylfi Sigurdsson next season. The attacking midfielder made a huge impact after arriving in South Wales on loan in January, scoring a number of spectacular goals both from open play and from set-pieces. Should personal terms be agreed and the deal completed, it is unlikely to be easy for Rodgers to exit the club. Reports suggest, should that end up being the case, the Co. Antrim man may have to formally request to leave, something that will sit well with neither the fans nor the board of the Welsh club.
Meanwhile, reports in the U.K. claim that Roberto Martinez, the hot favourite to be given the task of leading Liverpool, despite his inexperience at the highest level, will inform the press of his future intentions on Tuesday. Martinez held talks with John Henry and FSG in Boston last Thursday, with Dave Whelan suggesting that the American’s had made his current manager an offer, something which Liverpool Football Club have refuted.
The Spaniard has, however, called a press conference to be held at Wigan on Tuesday where, it is widely believed, he will make clear whether or not he is to become the next manager at Anfield.
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan does not believe his man will go to Liverpool unless he is given total control of footballing affairs, saying:
“I know he won’t move anywhere unless he is fully in charge of the football. Hopefully, he stays with us but, wherever he goes, he’s 100 per cent dedicated to that football club.”
[ad_pod id=”unruly-video” align=”center”]
Wigan central defender Gary Caldwell is of a different opinion however, telling the Daily Star:
“If the opportunity comes to go to ¬Liverpool, you take it. We all ¬understand that. I’m sure he would take it. Nothing fazes him. He stays very calm.”
The Wigan captain went on to say this about his current boss.
“He has what it takes to manage a club such as Liverpool. If that big job comes now then he has to go and show he is good enough. Having worked with him and knowing his tactical awareness and the thought he puts into training, then who knows what he could go on and achieve at a big club like Liverpool with their resources? It’s been great for me to play under him.”
Liverpool captain and club icon Steven Gerrard has also offered Martinez his full backing should the young Spanish coach be given the Anfield hotseat, when asked about Martinez, Gerrard replied:
“I’m aware Roberto Martinez has been talking to the club but all I’ve heard about him is positive. If he is going to be the manager, he’s got my full support.”
You can catch Neil on Twitter @Neil1980 or on his blog http://itsallinthegameblog.wordpress.com/
Live4Liverpool is recruiting columnists. For further info contact the site editor at live4liverpool@snack-media.com
Follow us on Twitter here: @live4Liverpool and ‘Like’ us on Facebook
Yet more stupid rumours running riot through the Cut’N’Paste press brigade following a bookmakers twisted thinking that Rogers is in New York for nefarious reasons. Florida is a long way from New York.
Agree Bill, I come looking for some well researched articles about our club, but all we get, as you put it, … is cut’n’paste rubbish which seems to spread around the blogs and football news sites like some desease from not using protection, it just stinks…
Shame as the audience is there, waiting for some real writing …
No matter who I would like as manager, I’ll just have to wait like everyone else and trust the club to make the right decision 🙂
As I sit here now, one day on, word is that Rodgers is hammering out a contract. We’ll see what happens but there was always a good chance. He’s N. Irish so will have an prior affinity for the club, he only rejected talks while stating he would take the job if offered and, if you believe he didn’t at least have a phone call with Henry while in the States, you must be mad. As I said, we’ll see, but he’s in the a shortlist of two with Martinez!
You will notice that this is in the LFC ‘news’ section – a place for all latest news on our club, from around the media world. For opinion piece articles from our team of writers, please select ‘View From The Kop’.
We should only be linked to managers who are capable of taking Real, Barca, Milan and Chelsea alike…..
None of these club are interested in the our transfer targets nor managers we have been linked to….
I guess we are no longer a big club after all!
Oh and when did the criteria for being LFC Manager change to beat us in the league and we’ll employ you!!!!!!! Fools!!
Rafa all the way!!!
FSG probably have this strange imagination that the philosophy that built Boston Red Sox will work at Anfield. Rafa is just the most logical choice. It can never been seen as a step back because all appointments are based on what candidates have done in the past, and 52% fans, in a poll with 7 other managers,incl Pep, Klopp & Capello, voted for Rafa. That tells you we know he did a good job,when he had the chance until G&H tried him for a scapegoat. John please bring Rafa back!!! John don’t risk a fan revolt