West Ham United are reportedly seriously interested in bringing Newcastle United boss Rafa Benitez to East London.
West Ham and Newcastle both flirted with the relegation places this season but under the stewardship of David Moyes and Rafa Benitez neither were in any real danger of the drop come what May.
That may not be enough to keep either manager at their current clubs, though, with reports Benitez could leave if he is not given more money to spend by unpopular Magpies owner Mike Ashley while the Hammers are believed to want a new face to move the club forward.
A host of managers have been linked with the Hammers job including Unai Emery, Paulo Fonseca and Benitez.
The Spaniard – adored at St James’ Park – is said to be near the top of the list, as reported by the likes of the The Mirror – and Sky Sports’ Newcastle United reporter Pete Graves previously claimed he feels he owes the East London club after turning them down at the 11th hour to manage Real Madrid when Sam Allardyce left the club in 2015.
And now a report emanating from leading Newcastle site ‘The Mag’ claims Hammers owners David Sullivan and David Gold would have to cough up £6 million in compensation to lure the former Chelsea, Napoli and Valencia boss to London.
“It has long been reported that Rafa Benitez has a buyout clause of £6m but that this only lasts until he enters into the final year of his contract, which is this summer,” reports The Mag.
“Even if £6m compensation had to be paid, then that is nothing these days to recruit your main man, when reality is that £6m would get you a squad player, if you were lucky.It does often feel that Mike Ashley stands alone as the only person who doesn’t appreciate (in more ways than one) the job Rafa Benitez as done so far at Newcastle United.”
The revelation comes after West Ham fans unanimously voted for Benitez as the man they want to take over from Moyes this summer in an online poll which received 4,800 votes.
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