Liam Kennedy has been speaking on the latest edition of NUFC Matters about all things relating to Newcastle United with Steve Wraith.
One of the topics that Kennedy talked about was a potential return to Tyneside for Rafael Benitez.
The Spaniard recently left his job in China and is now waiting for the right opportunity, and Shields Gazette reporter Kennedy seems to think that Benitez would love to come back to Newcastle to finish what he started.
He said: “I do think he would love to come back to Newcastle United, but I think he’s waiting for the right job offer.
“Now, if that right job offer comes from elsewhere – he’s always been on West Ham United’s radar, always been on Leicester City’s radar – if those kinds of jobs were to come up before any Mike Ashley-less Newcastle United job, I think he would potentially take them.
“So we’re going to have to play the waiting game on that. I hope he does come back; it’s the exact type of project that Rafa Benitez would thrive in – and it would be really satisfying to see him brought back to the football club to finish off the foundations that he started to build.”
Do you think Benitez will return to Newcastle?
Yes, he will one day
No, because the takeover won't happen
TIF Thoughts on Benitez…
Benitez was adored on Tyneside and could see the potential that Newcastle United had as a football club, however, he disagreed with the board on many issues and decided to leave Tyneside at the end of the 2018/19 season.
He has been linked with a return if the proposed takeover of the club by PCP Capital Partners, PIF and the Reuben brothers goes through; however, that deal is currently going through an arbitration case and is neither here nor there as it stands.
So, until there is any resolution on that, Benitez is unlikely to be willing to return to Newcastle until he knows who the owners of the club are going to be.
However, if the takeover did happen, we would love to see the Spaniard back on Tyneside.