Birmingham ‘already lining up John Eustace replacement’ 24 hours after Rangers job link – as they target superstar name

BIRMINGHAM CITY are already eyeing-up their next manager according to a report.

And the claims come just 24 hours after current boss John Eustace was linked with the Rangers job.

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Eustace has led Birmingham to an unbeaten start to the seasonCredit: Getty

Eustace’s Blues have enjoyed a superb start to the season and are unbeaten after five Championship games.

With three wins and two draws, they’re sitting fourth and just two points behind early leaders Preston.

The club were recently taken over by new American owners, with NFL legend Tom Brady among those with a stake.

After a 13-year absence, Birmingham now have ambitions of a Premier League return.

And according to The Telegraph, club chiefs have discussed making a big-name appointment.

The report notes that there is NO suggestion that Eustace is close to being sacked.

But with the 43-year old having been previously linked with the Swansea job and now Rangers, checks have been made regarding potential successors.

And they claim that none other than Wayne Rooney has been identified as a “genuine contender.”

Rooney is currently in the USA where he’s head coach of MLS side DC United.

And the Manchester United and England legend, 37, has already admitted his future is uncertain with his contract up in December.

Talks over a new deal for Rooney haven’t happened and he’s spoken about his frustrations at those discussions having not taken place.

The Rooney to Birmingham talk has emerged just a day after Eustace was linked as a potential replacement for Michael Beale at Rangers.

Ibrox gaffer Beale is under intense pressure after a horror week for the club.

Rangers were dumped out of Champions League qualifying in brutal fashion by PSV and then lost 1-0 to Celtic in the first Old Firm clash of the season on Sunday.

It was a second defeat already in the league this season just four matches in and left the Gers trailing the Hoops by four points already.

Furious Gers fans booed Beale’s decision to sub-off Kemar Roofe at Ibrox and also vented angrily towards the players after the game.

While Rangers themselves haven’t given any hint that Beale’s job is under threat, speculation over who could take over from him has been rife.

Eustace managed Kidderminster between 2016 and 2018 and went on to become part of the backroom staff at QPR in 2018.

He left his role in June 2022 following Beale’s appointment as QPR manager and he was appointed Birmingham manager himself the following month.

Former Ibrox defender Kevin Muscat emerged as the early bookmakers’ favourite to be the next boss.

Sources close to Rangers, however, said there was no truth in a claim out of Australia that the club had made contact with the Yokohama F. Marinos manager.

And former Light Blues trialist Eustace was named by the Daily Mail as a candidate should the Gers move on from Beale.

Eustace has previous history with Rangers.

He was infamously on trial at the Gers under Mark Warburton for a long period of time.

Eustace, who had a brief spell with Dundee United as a player, arrived at the club in June 2015 with the aim of winning a contract.

He was a free agent having left Derby County.

But despite training with Rangers for several months he ended up leaving without signing and eventually retired.

Birmingham were odds-on favourites to finish bottom of the Championship but Eustace guided them to 17th, comfortably clear of relegation.

Their tally of 53 points was also the highest the club achieved since 2016.

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