His reaction to being asked about the job today tells me that he'd come in the summer if we wanted him. The issue is whether there is genuine interest from our end or whether it is his agent trying to link us with him.
The journalist Alan Nixon has been planting stories about us and Rodgers for ages now, which have clearly come from the Rodgers camp. Today, he said again that he expects us to go for Rodgers.
So, I'm not sure whether we are interested in him or not. I'm also a bit wobbly on Rodgers agent/representatives touting him to us whilst he's in a job. To me, it backs up the view that he's got an ego the size of Jupiter. Also, is it genuine or is he using us as a method of trying to get more money out of Celtic?
The links we have to Wagner and Benitez are much more solid. According to people that know (local media people that have repeatedly said this as fact), we had both on our shortlists when Ranieri left and in the summer. Both effectively wouldn't leave their jobs for us which I take as a mark of respect and integrity.
So, in the summer, we will have the choice of all three (along with several other good candidates). Of those, I think Wagner has removed himself from consideration by his failure and meltdown at Huddersfield. It makes him a risk that we cannot afford to make. Remember that we've already mortgaged our TV money for the next two seasons against the training ground. We cannot risk relegation.
If Benitez doesn't renew his contract, he'll be our first choice in my opinion. However, I wonder whether he'd not want to leave Newcastle and remain in the same league as them. He has a very strong ethic. Maybe if he leaves, he'll want to work in another country.
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