West Ham United have twice before failed in attempts to get Rafael Benitez to become their manager, according to Football Insider.
The outlet claims that the Spaniard is currently a managerial target for the Hammers as they ponder the future of Manuel Pellegrini, but they’d have to convince him to join at the third time of asking.
The West Ham board are big fans of the 59-year-old and are looking to sound him out once again about the possibility of taking over at the London Stadium.
They went for Benitez before he joined Real Madrid in 2015, while they attempted to prise him away from Newcastle United in 2018 before appointing Pellegrini.
OPINION
Football Insider’s report also states that West Ham’s previous attempts to bring Benitez in have left him with a sense that the Hammers cannot offer him the terms he requires to take over at the club. That is thought to be the big hurdle for the east London outfit were they to attempt to prize the Spaniard away from Chinese side Dalian Yifang. However, the fact that Pellegrini is one of the highest-paid managers in the top flight suggests that the Irons do have the money to entice Benitez. Having said that, that is also a reason why they wouldn’t be able to get the former Magpies boss. If the owners do decide to get rid of the Chilean then they’ll have to pay him a big compensation package, something which might mean they have to turn to a free agent manager like David Moyes or Chris Hughton rather than a top class boss who is in work like Benitez.
