West Ham United are reportedly keen on Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez.
Newcastle United Manager Rafael Benitez
According to The Mirror, West Ham United are once again considering a move for Newcastle manager Rafael Benitez as a possible successor to Slaven Bilic.
The Hammers have lost each of their last three Premier League games, and have picked up just two points in their last five as the pressure again mounts on manager Bilic.
Croatian Bilic was in danger of losing his job earlier this season, but he managed to guide the club away from the relegation zone amid difficult circumstances, with a host of injuries, Dimitri Payet’s acrimonious departure and the move to the London Stadium all contributing to a poor season.
It seems likely that Bilic – who took West Ham to a seventh-placed finish in the Premier League last season – will be backed heading into the summer barring more poor results, but reports suggest that they do have their sights on a possible replacement.
The Mirror report that Newcastle boss Rafael Benitez is again wanted by the Hammers, having taken the Magpies to the brink of promotion back to the Premier League.
Benitez stayed on at St. James’ Park despite Newcastle’s relegation last season, and with just eight games to go, he has the club sitting top of the Championship table as Newcastle gear up for a return to the Premier League.
West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan
A veteran managed with experience of managing big clubs such as Valencia, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Chelsea, Napoli and real Madrid, Benitez is vital to Newcastle’s success, and they must keep the Champions League winner happy this summer.
West Ham will be eyeing Benitez’s situation to see whether they could finally land the 56-year-old, two years since missing out on him before his move to Real Madrid.
Before appointing Bilic as Sam Allardyce’s replacement, West Ham moved for Benitez, as co-chairman David Sullivan told The Mirror that contracts were agreed with Benitez before Real swooped in to land him – and now, the Hammers seem to have the Spaniard back on their radar.
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