Benitez considering raid on former club Newcastle as Everton eye potential Richarlison replacements

Newly-appointed Everton boss Rafa Benitez is considering a raid on former club Newcastle, as the Toffees eye potential replacements for Real Madrid target Richarlison.

The Spaniard – who was announced as the club’s new manager last month – has made the bold call to make the move to Goodison Park, despite widespread anger among the club’s fanbase due to his previous ties to city rivals Liverpool.

The 61-year-old led the Reds to two Champions League finals in his six-year stint at Anfield, memorably defeating AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005, having originally joined the club from La Liga side Valencia a year earlier.

He is no stranger to being an unpopular managerial choice at a club, having overcome an initially negative reception at Chelsea, after taking on an interim role at Stamford Bridge in the 2012/13 season.

The former Napoli boss now appears set to risk irking another former club this summer, as he considers a raid on Newcastle United as part of a search for a potential replacement for Richarlison, as per the Mirror.

The report suggests that Benitez is keen to prize Magpies’ fan favourite Allan Saint-Maximin from St James’ Park on a £50m deal this summer, the Frenchman a potential replacement for Richarlison, who has been linked with a move to Real Madrid.

The Brazilian – who started his nation’s Copa America showpiece defeat to Argentina – has been at the club since joining from Watford in 2018, yet now appears a target for Carlo Ancelotti in the Spanish capital, the Italian having recently abandoned the project on Merseyside to return to the Bernabeu.

With Ancelotti keen to raid his former club, it could spark something of a transfer merry-go-round, as the new Everton boss opts to do the same with Saint-Maximin, albeit with the two not having actually worked together in the northeast, as the pacy winger joined the club after the Spaniard’s departure.

The report even adds that Benitez was actually against the signing of the former Nice man – who joined on a £16.5m deal two summers ago – although he has seemingly been impressed by what he’s seen of the player in the Premier League in the two years since.

Steve Bruce’s side did hand their star asset a new six-year deal in October and have placed a £60m valuation on his head, although that may not necessarily put off the Merseyside club.

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