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David Wagner and Brendan Rodgers are "among the leading contenders" to succeed Rafa Benitez at Newcastle United should the Spaniard decide to leave this summer, a report claims.

Benitez's contract expires at the end of the season and, while the United hierarchy are keen for the 58-year-old to extend his current deal, he has so far refused to do so.

Newcastle initially offered Benitez a five-year contract last summer, before proposing various 12-month packages, while a three-year deal has been suggested as the most recent compromise agreement.

Managing director Lee Charnley is keen for Benitez to sit down and re-open discussions over a new deal - the Spaniard has indefinitely postponed talks - but serious negotiations are yet to recommence. Benitez himself insists he is willing to discuss his future in time, but will not rush into making a decision.

It is understood that no approaches have been made by the club to any potential successors, with the United board still hopeful of avoiding the eventuality where Benitez departs at the end of the campaign.

One of the reasons why a deal rising to a potential club-record £21million fee for Miguel Almiron was sanctioned by Mike Ashley last month was in order to attempt to convince Benitez to commit his future to the club - as was the belated discussions with West Bromwich Albion over extending Salomon Rondon's Tyneside stay.

However, The Times claims that, with Benitez's medium-term future uncertain, the Newcastle hierarchy have started "making internal contingency plans" in case he walks away in May.

(Image: Getty Images)

Celtic manager Rodgers - who has won seven trophies in Glasgow, and is on course to lift a third successive Scottish Premiership title - has been linked with the managerial role at St James' Park already this season, though the 46-year-old ex-Liverpool boss still has two-and-a-half years left on his contract.

Wagner, however, is a new name to have been floated as a future Newcastle manager following the German's impressive two-and-a-half-year spell at Huddersfield Town.

The 47-year-old - who led unfancied Huddersfield to promotion in 2016/17 alongside Newcastle, before unexpectedly keeping the Terriers in the Premier League last season - has reportedly "emerged in discussions" at St James' Park as a viable candidate to follow Benitez should the Spaniard depart.

It is claimed that the United hierarchy were impressed by Huddersfield's 2-1 victory at St James' Park at the start of the 2016/17 Championship campaign, and have followed his progress ever since.

With Wagner having departed the John Smith's Stadium on mutual terms last month, the German is free and available this summer - though Leicester City and Everton have also been floated as potential destinations for the former Borussia Dortmund reserve-team coach.

Rodgers, it is suggested, remains the "favourite" to succeed Benitez should the Spaniard depart - though it is understood that the club's hierarchy remain determined to keep their current manager in place if at all possible.