Newcastle’s new owners see Everton manager Rafa Benitez as the “dream” replacement for recently sacked Steve Bruce, according to Gianluca Di Marzio.
Benitez was previously appointed Newcastle head coach in 2016 and was unable to steer the club away from Premier League relegation in the 2015-16 season.
However, the former Newcastle boss stayed with the Magpies and led them back to the Premier League in the following season after winning the Championship title.
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Benitez’s time at St James’ Park came to an end in 2019 after his contract expired, but the Spaniard was vocal about his differences with former Newcastle owner Mike Ashley.
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid manager went on to manage Chinese Super League side Dalian Professional before returning to the Premier League with Everton in June.
Di Marzio claims that Newcastle’s dream scenario would be for Benitez to “accept immediately” a return to his former post at the club.
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But Benitez, who succeeded Carlo Ancelotti at Everton, inked a deal that will keep him at Goodison Park until 2024.
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Di Marzio added that former Roma manager Paulo Fonseca, who is widely tipped to replace Bruce, is on Newcastle’s managerial shortlist.
“Their dream, for Newcastle, was and would be to convince Rafa to accept immediately,” he told My Betting Sites.
“It is really, really difficult that Rafa will leave Everton now. They met Rafa twice even because the new sporting director who will be appointed in an official way, Frank McFarland.
“He worked with Rafa at Liverpool and was responsible for the young players in the academy. He knows Rafa really well. But it is almost impossible that Rafa will go.
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“They spoke to Paulo Fonseca and I don’t know if they are really, really close but he is [on] the shortlist. The interviews and meetings with him were very good and he has good opportunities to go. I think Fonseca is a good choice.
“It’s a strange club because the sporting director is not official and a lot of persons want to decide. It is strange to take a final decision but Fonseca is a good choice.
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“Steven Gerrard is in the running too, as he is a good friend of McFarland.
“They would have liked to have [Ralf] Rangnick as well. He is now at Lokomotiv Moscow and is a sporting director who likes to work with the coaches but Newcastle needs to have a coach at the bench.”
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Bruce was axed from Newcastle after his 1,000th match as a manager, which ended in a 3-2 defeat to Spurs at St James’ Park.
Graeme Jones was appointed caretaker manager and led Newcastle to a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Ashley’s polarising 14-year reign at Newcastle came to an end earlier this month after a Saudi Arabian-backed takeover of the club for £300m.
Newcastle will return to action on Saturday when they host Premier League leaders Chelsea at St James’ Park.
Featured Image Credit: PATopics: Rafa Benitez, Steve Bruce, Newcastle United, Premier League, England, Football