Swansea City ready to fend off Brendan Rodgers interest

Brendan Rodgers will soon be a target for one of the Premier League's leading clubs, according to Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins.

But Jenkins plans to hold on to his prized asset, and is in the process of tying Rodgers down to a new three-year contract.

"Every top four or five jobs that come up there's no doubt Brendan is going to be linked to it," said Jenkins.

"That's not going to change now. It's probably going to increase not fade."

In the aftermath of Swansea's recent 3-2 victory over Arsenal, Rodgers was suggested in some quarters as an ideal successor to Gunners manager Arsene Wenger.

He has already rejected an opportunity to manage his native Northern Ireland.

The passing principles that are now long established at the Liberty Stadium have been seamlessly adopted and developed by Rodgers, earning his side further comparisons with Barcelona.

Jenkins takes great pleasure in such glowing reports, not only vindicating the club's decision to appoint Rodgers in July 2010 but also the prudent spending structure and style of play to which they adhere.

"We've been playing this kind of football for a long time," said Jenkins, who has appointed five managers in his 10 years at the helm.

"Yes, Brendan coming in has added that bit extra to us and he's taken the club forward in the right way.

"We're not going to listen to what's said about us. We do what we think is right ourselves.

"If we prove people wrong and people sit up and take notice of us it's something we'll just take on board and be happy with that."

Although an agreement has been reached between Rodgers and the club over a new deal, the contract remains unsigned.

That will soon change, stressed Jenkins, and the manager has already expressed his "honour" of being given the opportunity to lead Swansea for years to come.

Rodgers's stock has risen considerably over recent months as Swansea have belied their pre-season billing as relegation favourites in their debut Premier League season.

Saturday's 1-2 win over West Bromwich Albion lifted the south Wales club into 10th place, 10 points clear of the relegation zone with 14 games remaining.

And Jenkins said: "We always felt the players would grow and gain in confidence and get used to the Premier League.

"Luckily enough it's work out more or less on plan and we're very, very pleased."

Such is the confidence emanating from the Swansea squad, the target now is to finish inside the top 10 rather than settling for survival.

Jenkins dismissed suggestions they could finish in one of the European places, but said he has not been surprised how well the players have adapted to life in the top-flight.

"The motivation in the club is to look up and not down - I think that's always the right way," he added.

"Once we get a settled team together, as we have done lately and their confidence is growing, I don't think there's any game we go into where we don't feel we've got a chance of winning."