Claudio Ranieri has been without a role since leaving Roma at the end of the season

Claudio Ranieri is interested in replacing Rafael Benitez as Newcastle manager, according to Sky sources.

The former Leicester manager, who won the Premier League title with the Foxes in the 2015-16 season, has been without a job since leaving Roma at the end of the campaign.

Ranieri is keen to return to English football despite an unsuccessful spell at Fulham last season.

Sky sources understand Ranieri is keen to return to English football

Sky sources understand former Arsenal and Barcelona midfielder Giovanni van Bronckhorst has also expressed an interest in the role.

The 107-times capped Netherlands international recently left Feyenoord, who he guided to the Eredivisie title in the 2016-17 season - the club's first league title in 18 years.

3:18 Former Newcastle player Micky Quinn has slammed the club for not doing enough to keep ‘world-class manager’ Benitez Former Newcastle player Micky Quinn has slammed the club for not doing enough to keep ‘world-class manager’ Benitez

Newcastle have begun the process to recruit a replacement for Benitez, after confirming the Spaniard will leave his role as manager on June 30 when his contract expires.

The Magpies are understood to be drawing up a shortlist of potential candidates, with owner Mike Ashley and managing director Lee Charnley in control of the process.

The club had hoped Benitez would agree to sign a new contract and, as a result, no plans were in place to find a successor until his departure was confirmed on Monday.

Managing director Lee Charnley has been tasked with compiling a shortlist for the vacancy.

Sky Sports News' Keith Downie:

'As time ticked down over the last few days, it looked increasingly unlikely that Benitez would stay. The long and short of it is that Ashley has failed to convince him.

Rafael Benitez and Newcastle in its current guise 'wasn't the right fit,' believes Sky Sports News' north-east reporter, Keith Downie

'I think the key point is that Benitez is just too big a manager for Newcastle in their current guise. I don't mean he is too big for the club full stop. I mean he's too big for them with Ashley at the helm.

'He wants more, he wants to improve, he wants the club to get better. It seems Newcastle are quite happy to just stay in the Premier League under Ashley - rather than challenge for trophies and get into Europe.

'I just feel the fit wasn't right and it never has been. It has been a power battle for the best part of three years and now it has come to this.'