Real Betis manager Manuel Pellegrini has been offered to Everton although the Toffees will have to pay £3.2 million to bring the former Manchester City boss back to the Premier League, as reported by La Tercera.
How to judge Pellegrini’s time in English football?
On one hand, the Chilean ‘engineered’ Manchester City’s second of five top-flight titles back in 2014.
On the other, Pellegrini’s time in charge of West Ham was nothing short of an unmitigated disaster, as an expensively assembled and underachieving squad went from European hopefuls to relegation candidates.
At the grand old age of 67, you can see why Everton supporters would be unconvinced about the prospect of Pellegrini replacing another big-name, 60-something tactician in the shape of Carlo Ancelotti.
Then again, it is safe to assume a man who guided Real Betis to a sixth-place finish in La Liga last season would still be a more popular appointment than Rafa Benitez.
Pellegrini might have tasted sweet success at one of Everton’s north west neighbours but at least it wasn’t Liverpool.
Manuel Pellegrini or Rafa Benitez for Everton?
According to La Tercera, the one-time Real Madrid, Malaga and Villarreal coach has a £3.2 million release clause in his contract.
Furthermore, it is understood that agents working on behalf of Everton have made contact with Pellegrini to gauge how he would feel about a potential return to English football.
Betis have made it clear that they won’t let Pellegrini go without a fight.
Then again, if Everton trigger that rather affordable release clause, that would be something of a knockout blow for Los Verdiblancos.
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