Former Liverpool and Chelsea manager Rafael Benitez has reportedly agreed to become the new manager of Everton on a three-year deal.
The 61-year-old has been out of the game since leaving his post at Chinese Super League side Dalian Professional in January, where he won 12 of his 38 games in charge.
Everton have been on the lookout for a new coach since Carlo Ancelotti's sudden departure to rejoin Real Madrid, and they were linked with Nuno Espirito Santo before talks supposedly broke down.
According to BBC Sport, Everton have now reached an agreement with ex-Liverpool boss Benitez, who is gearing up to return to the Premier League after leaving Newcastle United in 2019.
The Spaniard is said to have made a positive impression during talks with owner Farhad Moshiri, but his appointment has been met with hostility, with police investigating a threatening anti-Benitez banner left near his house recently.
Benitez has won the FA Cup, Champions League, Europa League, La Liga and Coppa Italia during a distinguished managerial career, and he was also thought to have been a candidate for the vacancy at Tottenham Hotspur.
Ben Knapton
