By Wayne Veysey

5th Oct, 2022 | 1:28pm

Sources: Leicester City and Nottingham Forest race to land Rafael Benitez after new twist

Nottingham Forest face competition from Leicester City for Rafael Benitez, sources have told Football Insider.

Forest are sounding out potential managers with Steve Cooper’s job hanging by a thread following Monday’s 4-0 demolition by the Foxes.

Benitez, the former Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle United and Everton manager, is among the options for the Reds should they dismiss Cooper.

But it is understood that Leicester are also considering Benitez as a potential replacement for Rodgers.

The Northern Irishman appeared to give himself some breathing space after Monday’s win lifted his side off the bottom of the Premier League table, where they were replaced by Forest.

However, Rodgers is far from safe with Leicester noting the low calibre and disjointed nature of a Forest side who were there for the taking.

Benitez, 62, is of interest to Foxes chiefs who value his extensive Premier League experience as well as an impressive track record at various levels.

The Spaniard won the FA Cup and Champions League with Liverpool as well as the Europa League with Chelsea but has been out of work since leaving Everton in January of this year.

He left the Blues just six points above the relegation zone after losing nine of his last 13 games in charge.

Forest and Leicester are level on points at the bottom of the table, two points from safety, but the Foxes have a significantly better goal difference.

In other news, an ex-Premier League referee has claimed Steve Cook should get an extended ban as controversial Nottingham Forest footage emerges.