Rafael Benitez ignoring links to vacant Everton managerial job

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 28 October 2017

Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez all but rules himself out of the Everton job, stating that he is only focused on helping his current club.

Rafael Benitez has stressed that he is "happy" at Newcastle United and is not concerned with talk that he is being lined up to succeed Ronald Koeman at Everton.

The 57-year-old is still revered in the red half of Merseyside, where he spent six years at the Toffees' city rivals Liverpool before departing in 2010.

Everton are currently seeking a new boss after sacking Koeman earlier this week, with Benitez one of a number of names to have already been linked with the vacant position.

Speaking ahead of Newcastle's trip to Burnley on Monday night, however, the Spaniard told reporters: "I read in the press and heard people talking, but I am happy here. I am concentrating on this, I don't like to talk about rumours.

"The reality, obviously, is that my family is in Liverpool, but my past was Liverpool [Football Club]. Everton is a great club. I'm not saying I'm interested, I'm saying I'm happy here and want to concentrate on Newcastle and try to do my best here."

Caretaker boss David Unsworth is the bookies' favourite to remain in charge at Goodison Park on a permanent basis, closely followed by Sean Dyche and Thomas Tuchel.