Rodgers back in Anfield running but timing is disastrous for Swans

Brendan Rodgers turned down Liverpool’s first offer of talks (Getty Images)

Liverpool will hold talks with the Swansea City manager, Brendan Rodgers, this week as they seek to make progress on the challenging issue of replacing Kenny Dalglish.

The Anfield club have always retained a belief that the 39-year-old would be open to another approach, after he initially turned them down on the grounds that being one of multiple prospective Liverpool managers might cause him damage at Swansea, were he not selected.

With the Wigan Athletic manager, Roberto Martinez, intending to make his intentions clear during a press conference at his club's ground tomorrow, an opportunity may be opening up for Rodgers. But Liverpool's approach could not have come at a worse time.

Swansea have just agreed a £7m fee for Gylfi Sigurdsson from Hoffenheim – by far the biggest transfer fee the club have paid. There would be dismay from the club's chairman, Huw Jenkins, if, having persuaded the club to pay out that figure, Rodgers then left. Jenkins would be likely to make it difficult for Rodgers to go.

Also in the frame is Louis van Gaal, though it remains unclear whether his arrival would be in the capacity of sporting director.

Martinez met Liverpool's owners in Miami last Thursday to discuss the job and left still undecided. The Wigan chairman, Dave Whelan, clouded the picture by suggesting that his manager had received an offer; Liverpool reject that.

The Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, has pledged his full support to Martinez should he get the job. "We'll have to wait and see," said the midfielder. "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."

Whelan said: "[Martinez] went to Miami and had a very constructive meeting with the owner of Liverpool. They're going to talk again on Tuesday. They've made Roberto an offer and he has agreed to consider it. Hopefully, he stays with us but, wherever he goes, he's 100 per cent dedicated to that football club."

The Wigan captain, Gary Caldwell, said: "If the opportunity comes to go to Liverpool, you take it. He has what it takes to manage a club like Liverpool."