In other Everton news, a BBC pundit has lauded a £20k-p/w Toffees man as someone who can make a difference.
So many Everton fans have been reacting on social media after Dalian Yifang head coach Rafa Benitez ruled himself out of replacing Marco Silva at Goodison Park.
Silva was fired last Thursday after losing 5-2 away to Liverpool in the Merseyside derby, a result which left the Toffees inside the Premier League relegation places and with just two top-flight wins in our last 11 games.
Benitez has since been linked with potentially taking up the vacant Blues hot seat in the wake of Silva’s departure, but has insisted that a return to Merseyside is not something he is currently aiming for.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football (9/12/19), Benitez said: “In the future, I would like to come back to the Premier League because I like the league but at the moment, I can be very clear, there is no chance that I will come back now.
“I’m really happy [in China], really pleased they trust me and we have a lot of staff working in a big, big project. People will say that the league is different and yes, it is another level, but Wanda, who is behind Dalian Yifang, is a massive company and they want to change everything.
“They want to create a structure. We are in charge of kids from six-years-old until the first-team. We want to leave a legacy, so it is a challenge for me. I am learning a lot and it is a great experience. I’m quite happy at the moment.”
Would you welcome Benitez to Goodison Park?
Yes, absolutely
No, he's out-dated
Benitez joined Dalian Yifang on a £12million-per-year deal in July, having left Newcastle United after failing to come to terms on a contract extension as Toon owner Mike Ashley refused to give the Spaniard the certain guarantees he was after.
News that he does not have his eyes set on replacing Silva at Goodison Park has pleased a number of Blues supporters, going by their reactions to his comments on Sky Sports.
Here are some of the messages shared…
Good.
— PF (@PeterFearns) December 9, 2019
Best news all day. Thank good for that.
— Gavin Morgan (@gavmorgan82) December 9, 2019
Thank god!! People say moyes is outdated and living on his past. Steve Bruce is playing better football with that Newcastle squad and getting more out then Rafa ever did #everton
— Phill Hayward (@Haywaphi17) December 9, 2019
Good. Anyone that would genuinely want him anywhere near our club is weird.
— Lee Mustafa (@muss_efc1878) December 9, 2019
Good
— Gwyn Pearson (@plattfoldblue) December 9, 2019
Yes!!!
— Ian Sutton (@sutty18) December 9, 2019
thank god
— Bag Full of Toffee (@BagFullofToffee) December 9, 2019
Good. He is a Liverpool manager.
— Michael (@sekimsports) December 9, 2019
Hurrah! Never wanted the fat Spanish waiter……..onward and upward with Big Dunc💙💙💙💙 💙💙💙💙 💙💙
— Captain Hegel (@CaptainHegel) December 9, 2019