Emile Heskey has encouraged Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers to ignore the prospect of becoming Arsenal's next permanent manager.

The Gunners are on the search for a new boss following the club's decision to dispense with manager Unai Emery on Friday.

Reports have claimed that Rodgers, whose Leicester side are second in the Premier League table, is a leading candidate for the role.

Speaking on the subject of Rodgers going to Arsenal, Heskey told Sky Sports News: "I don't see why [he'd be tempted] in the sense that he's got a project here [at Leicester] that he's just started."

"Leicester are moving into a new training facility, they're expanding the stadium, he's got the backing of the board, he has the full rein of everything.

"Why would you move to somewhere which is a massive, massive project to actually connect everything. There's such a big difference between the playing staff to the board to the fans to everything. To bring someone in to connect that it's a massive, massive project."

It has been claimed that Arsenal would need to shell out £14m in compensation if they were to prize Rodgers from Leicester this season.

Mikel Arteta, Carlo Ancelotti, Nuno Espirito Santo and Massimiliano Allegri are all viewed as candidates for the position.