According to The Mirror, Everton have held further talks over a potential deal to make Rafael Benitez their new manager.
It’s claimed that Everton were close to agreeing terms with Nuno Espirito Santo as they seek a replacement for Carlo Ancelotti.
However, Benitez has held further talks with Everton and could make a shock return to Merseyside some 11 years after leaving Liverpool.
Everton’s interest in Benitez
The report states that majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri is ‘determined’ to push through his appointment even if director of football Marcel Brands doesn’t like it.
Brands is believed to be concerned about negative fan backlash if Everton appoint either Nuno or Benitez, but Moshiri isn’t so worried.
Benitez is now pushing himself to the front of the queue for the Everton job, even though Nuno was expecting a job offer this week.
Benitez’s past comments about Everton
This would be a controversial move and not just because Benitez spent so long at Liverpool, even winning the Champions League for the Reds.
Benitez branded Everton a ‘small club’, and whilst he has attempted to explain those comments, it’s not a great PR move to appoint somebody who had made those comments.
The Spaniard also played a fairly attritional brand of football at Newcastle United, and Everton fans would want more from him – something that may not happen based on his past.
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