Arsene Wenger reveals stance on Premier League return amid Newcastle links

Arsene Wenger has ruled himself out of the Newcastle job [Courtesy]

Arsene Wenger has insisted that he is still not ready to return to management yet, despite being linked to the vacant Newcastle United job.

Frenchman Wenger has been out of employment for over a year after he departed Arsenal last summer.

The two-time Premier League winner has been out of the game since he ended his 22-year reign at the Gunners.

But the 69-year-old is one of a series of names to have been mentioned as the Magpies look for a replacement for Rafael Benitez after announcing he will leave the club when his contract expires on Sunday.

However, Wenger is not planning an imminent comeback despite revealing he thought he might be ready to resume his career after a season-long break.

"Not in the near future, no. I’m still not ready to go back," when asked if he will be back on the sidelines this season by France 24.

Wenger has been out of management since leaving Arsenal last year [Courtesy]

"I thought yes but I don’t think at the moment I will come back. I’m more open now than a year ago to talk about that but I cannot tell you that in the next two or three days I will go into management again.

"I took a little bit of distance and I enjoyed it. I worked for 35 years without any interruptions, so I think I deserved a little rest."

Wenger worked in France and Japan before his hugely successful spell with the Gunners, which yielded three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups, and hinted that he might consider working in a different country.

He said: "Well I would prefer to try another country, although my preferred time was in England because the Premier League is the place to be at the moment.

"But for me it is very difficult because I was for so long at the same club. But why not? I still need a bit of time to pass and then maybe make the decision.’

Wenger is the latest established manager to distance himself from the Newcastle speculation with sources close to Jose Mourinho having also played down the link.

Managing director Lee Charnley is currently drawing up a shortlist - potential candidates are thought to include Rangers boss Steven Gerrard, Manchester City's number two Mikel Arteta and former Feyenoord manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst - although his task is complicated by the ongoing uncertainty over the club's ownership.