Get the latest Welsh rugby news sent straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Swansea City are ready to announce Michael Laudrup as their successor to Brendan Rodgers.

Reports suggested that the club’s search for a new boss has come to an end with the legendary Dane ready to be confirmed in the hotseat.

The Swans have been searching for a new manager since Rodgers took over at Liverpool two weeks ago.

Chairman Huw Jenkins has played his cards close to his chest in the search for a new boss, but the hunt is set to be stepped up when he returns from holiday in the coming days. A number of names have been linked with the job at the Liberty Stadium, including Gus Poyet, Marcel Desailly, Dennis Bergkamp and Graeme Jones.

Wigan assistant manager Jones was the early favourite for the job and held talks over the position, but he appears to have fallen down the pecking order due to his reservations about taking his first managerial role.

Desailly has revealed he turned down an approach as he did not believe the timing was right for a move into management.

Instead it is former Real Madrid and Barcelona midfielder Laudrup as odds-on favourite to take over at the Liberty Stadium after the Dane held talks about becoming Swans’ boss.

Blackpool boss Holloway is the other leading candidate for the role, although the Seasiders have again denied receiving any approach for the 49-year-old.

Holloway guided Blackpool to another play-off final last season, but having failed to return to the top flight he has admitted he would be interested in a move to a Premier League club and is a known admirer of Swansea.

The Swans directors are keen for their new manager to embrace the passing philosophy adopted by the club under Roberto Martinez, Paolo Sousa and Rodgers.

Laudrup would fit that mould having produced enterprising, football during his spells at Brondby, Getafe, Spartak Moscow and Real Mallorca. While Swansea close in on a new manager, the club’s hopes of completing the signing of Gylfi Sigurdsson appear to be over. The Swans had agreed a £6.8m fee with Hoffenheim for the Iceland midfielder, who scored seven goals in 17 appearances during his loan spell in South Wales, as well as personal terms.

But Rodgers’ exit for Anfield led Sigurdsson to admit he had reservations about making a permanent switch to the Liberty Stadium and the deal is set to fall through.