The usually very reliable Ken Dyer says Benitez is interested if he gets the right offer -
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Rafa Benitez interested in becoming the next West Ham manager and is Hammers No1 target
are poised to bring to the London Stadium - providing they make the right offer.
The Spaniard is top of the club’s short-list to and the 58-year-old is growing increasingly frustrated at Newcastle.
Benitez is in talks about his future with Lee Charnley, the managing director at St James’ Park, but is not receiving the assurances he needs to remain in the north east.
The former Liverpool manager is weighing up a number of offers but prefers to remain in the Premier League. If West Ham present the right package, Benitez would be willing to move south.
It will cost West Ham more than £6million in compensation to get their man. Zenit St Petersburg are one of a number of clubs who are interested in Benitez but his preferred option would be to move to London.
Benitez, a popular figure on Tyneside after guiding Newcastle to promotion last season and then to 10th in the Premier League, has a year left to run on his deal and West Ham would have to pay compensation of at least £6m - Benitez’s annual salary.
It is understood he is looking for an £80m transfer budget at St James’ Park this summer.
The east London club, who decided not to award Moyes a longer deal, despite the fact he guided them to 13th place in the Premier League final table - two points behind Newcastle - have other names on their short-list should Benitez decide to stay in the north east.
Co-owner David Sullivan (above) has already interviewed Shakhtar Donetsk coach Paulo Fonseca and intends also to talk to former Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini, who is in charge of Chinese Super League team Hebei China Fortune.
Salary could be a problem but it is understood that the 64-year-old Chilean is keen to return to Europe.
Unai Emery, who is leaving Paris Saint-Germain, is also on the Premier League club’s list, as is former Hull and Watford manager Marco Silva, who is also wanted by Everton.
West Ham are also among a number of clubs who have been impressed with the work of at Fulham. The Serbian looks likely to stay at Craven Cottage should they beat Aston Villa in the Championship Play-off Final but could be considering other options should Fulham not win promotion.
Benitez, though, remains West Ham’s first choice and there remains a degree of mutual respect following the club’s failed attempt to land him in 2015, following the departure of Sam Allardyce.
West Ham were close to landing their man then but Real Madrid joined the chase and the deal fell through.
Benitez has since said: “I have a lot of respect for West Ham because, when I was in contact with them, they were really good and professional.”