TalkSport insider Alex Crook has discussed some potential problems surrounding the rumoured appointment of Rafael Benitez at Everton.
Reports seem to suggest that the Spaniard is close to being appointed the next manager at Goodison Park following the departure of Carlo Ancelotti, who returned to Real Madrid. It is a move that has not gone down well with some members of the Everton fanbase following his association with club rivals Liverpool as well as comments that he has made about them in the past.
But it appears as though tensions might not just emanate off the pitch, as there’s potential for problems to arise from the boardroom as well, according to Crook. Speaking on TalkSport, he claimed that the appointment process hasn’t been all that cohesive at Goodison Park and that Benitez’s management style might lead to problems down the line:
“I think what’s interesting about this one is the vibe from Goodison Park. Marcel Brands, the sporting director – obviously has had a lot of say at Everton the last few years – doesn’t seem to have had much of a say on this appointment. It’s very much Farhad Moshiri, the owner, and one of his business associates, the former Arsenal director Alisher Usmanov, who seem to be driving this deal for Rafa Benitez.
“I wonder where that leaves Marcel Brands, because if you look at Benitez, he’s very much a manager who knows his own mind. So perhaps that relationship between sporting director and manager once Benitez is appointed could come under scrutiny.”
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Crook is right to have some level of concern when it comes to the potential relationship between Benitez and Brands, because the relationship between manager and board, combined with control over players, played a big part in the Spaniard’s decision to leave Newcastle United back in 2019.
And if Everton are to take the step forward that they feel Benitez can deliver following on in Ancelotti’s footsteps, then there likely needs to be cohesion between the two sides rather than constant tension.
So this is something that the two are going to have to sort out if and when he does put pen to paper on his deal in the coming days.
In other news: Insider drops Denzel Dumfries transfer claim at Everton