http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2151835/Brendan-Rodgers-set-Liverpool.htmlSwansea fury! Rodgers is set for Anfield as Martinez jets back to UK after talks Brendan Rodgers is now Liverpool's No 1 choice to be their new manager and could even be installed by the end of the week.
The Swansea boss has usurped Roberto Martinez as favourite to take over from Kenny Dalglish and his chairman Huw Jenkins has admitted he would not stand in Rodgers' way if he expresses a desire to leave the Liberty Stadium.
Wigan manager Martinez, who has also talked to Aston Villa, looked like he was holding all the aces after a meeting with Liverpool's principal owner John W Henry in Miami last Thursday, but it is understood that further negotiations with the Spaniard broke down when it became apparent that Rodgers was Anfield's preferred choice.
Liverpool have conducted a painstaking search to find Dalglish's successor since sacking the legendary Scot two weeks ago.
And their approach has drawn heavy criticism from Jenkins, who insisted he would have gone about his business differently.
There is also an irony that Rodgers has emerged as the outstanding candidate to take over at Anfield, given that he was the first manager to rule himself out of the running when the initial interview process started with a dozen candidates 12 days ago.
Sportsmail understands his stance was partially dictated by a reluctance to undermine his position at Swansea, but it has always been the intention of Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool's American owners, to speak with the Northern Irishman this week.
Rodgers, 39, and Jenkins had a two-hour meeting at the Liberty Stadium when Swansea insist Liverpool's interest was not discussed, but that seems unlikely considering Jenkins' strong feelings on the two-week saga and his desperation to keep one of the hottest young managerial properties in the game.
Jenkins said: 'If I was in charge of Liverpool I would be going about my business differently. 'What they are doing is not how I would do it. I don't want to say what I would do differently but I have not been too happy.'This is the kind of silly thing that happens at this point of the season. There has not been another approach since the first one and we've had to answer a lot of questions based on speculation.'
Liverpool now want to bring the process to a swift conclusion. Henry and chairman Tom Werner have arrived on Merseyside, with Werner set to attend a Premier League meeting on Thursday.
Provided talks go smoothly, Liverpool may make an official announcement before the weekend.
FSG are determined to implement a new coaching structure at Anfield and former Bayern Munich and Ajax coach Louis van Gaal has also been lined up as sporting director.
Martinez is left facing a 24-hour wait to discover whether his talks with Liverpool have cost him the chance to succeed Alex McLeish at Villa.
Club owner Randy Lerner was informed by the Spaniard's representatives yesterday that the Latics boss would now be prepared to press ahead with his candidacy after talks between the two parties at Villa Park last week.
But Martinez has been informed that Villa have looked elsewhere since the talks, and it is believed Norwich's Paul Lambert is now also under consideration.
Villa want the matter resolved by the weekend and will open talks with the club of their choice in the next two days.
Martinez is in danger of paying the price for a failure to declare his outright determination to land the post.
He was Lerner's first-choice 12 months ago - before the calamitous decision was taken to appoint McLeish - and has only enhanced his reputation since.
Seems Brendan Rodgers meeting with Jenkins didn't deliver the verdict his chairman had anticipated ....Its now looking a racing certainty that
Rodgers will be the next reds manager .