Punters Sweet On Rafa Benitez For Toffees

Rafa Benitez has been the subject of an early gamble to be appointed as the new Everton manager after it was revealed that Carlo Ancelotti was leaving Merseyside for Madrid.

Everton confirmed on Tuesday that the Italian had struck a deal to replace Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid

…as he begins a second stint at the Bernabeu having managed the side between 2013 and 2015.

Ex-Wolves manager Nuno Espirito Santo is the early 5/4 frontrunner, but we have also slashed the odds on ex-Liverpool boss Benitez into 4/1 from his opening price of 12/1. Eddie Howe is also in the mix at 5/2 following the collapse of his proposed move to Celtic.

West Ham manager David Moyes has already been linked with a sensational return to Goodison Park and is rated an 8/1 shot, but another former Toffees boss is also seeing some early money with Belgium manager Roberto Martinez shortening into 9/1 from 12/1.

Reports that the club may try to lure Steven Gerrard from Rangers aren’t being bought by punters however as the former Liverpool midfielder remains a 50/1 outsider to return to Merseyside in the Everton dugout