Manager wasn’t able to ‘convince’ Everton, so they chose Benitez – Huge PL move in picture

Carlo Ancelotti’s decision to leave Everton for Real Madrid in June forced the Merseyside club to look for a new manager for the 2021/22 season.

The Toffees ended up appointing Rafael Benítez, who has helped them to win four of their 12 matches in the league so far.

Prior to the Spaniard’s arrival at Goodison Park, the Premier League side also looked at Rudi Garcia, with reports even stating there were contacts between the two parties.

The Frenchman has been out of a job since leaving Lyon at the end of last season and his name is now linked to Manchester United.

Having sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer last weekend, the Red Devils are looking to bring in a manager until the end of this term, if their priority targets don’t become available midway through the season. Garcia’s name is on the list for the interim role.

L’Equipe on Thursday explain Garcia has ‘spoken with’ John Murtough for the Old Trafford job.

The former Ligue 1 boss, however, ‘needs to convince’ the United board, something he ‘hadn’t been able to do it last summer with Everton’. The Toffees had ‘thought of him for a while’, before appointing Benítez.

Garcia is now in contention for the United job, just months after failing to convince Everton.