Everton FC

Benitez hopes to be named Everton boss

Rafael Benitez is hoping to be formally offered the role of Everton manager.

Benitez has emerged as a surprise name for the vacant Goodison Park hot seat as majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri assesses various candidates.

Former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo appeared to be in the box seat but has since fallen behind the Spaniard, who is now the current forerunner.

Several rounds of talks have taken place between Moshiri and the Champions League-winning coach, who is understood to be confident of landing the role.

Benitez’s prospective appointment would be considered a potentially incendiary move by the Blues due to his pre-existing links with Liverpool.

The 61-year-old publicly denigrated Everton as a ‘small club’ in 2007, midway through a six-year spell across Stanley Park before he was sacked in 2010.

He has worked for several Premier League clubs in Chelsea and Newcastle United since leaving Anfield and was recently with Chinese side Dalian.

Benitez continues to reside in the Merseyside area but his connection with Liverpool, where he is still revered by fans, makes him an uneasy choice.

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Indeed, the Goodison boardroom is understood to be split on appointing him, with several other names weighed up by director of football Marcel Brands.

Among the more interesting options previously under consideration is Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez, who was sacked by Everton in May 2016.

However the Catalan’s body of work with the top ranked international team is believed to have made a potential reconciliation an appealing prospect.