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Rafa Benitez to West Ham: Newcastle boss could escape £6m penalty if he quits Magpies
RAFAEL BENITEZ could leave Newcastle without having to pay a £6million severance pacakge, according to reports.
Rafa Benitez could leave Newcastle without having to pay a severance penalty
West Ham are currently searching for a new manager after parting company with David Moyes earlier this week.
Benitez, who guided Newcastle to a top-10 finish in the Premier League this season, is being earmarked as a potential candidate.
The Spaniard was previously on the Hammers’ radar before he took over at Real Madrid three years ago.
Express Sport understands Benitez is West Ham’s first choice to succeed Moyes and he has outlined three things in order to accept the role - a £100million budget, total control over transfer and a £6m a year contract.
David Moyes
He would probably look at West Ham's squad and think 'there's a lot more potential in this squad’
Benitez currently has a £6m release clause, but according to the Daily Mail, his camp think he can get out of that.
Indeed, the report suggests that broken promises mean Benitez could leave St James’ Park without paying the severance penalty as it would add to constructive dismissal.
The Spaniard however is still trying to sort out a new deal with the Magpies, but he wants reassurances from Mike Ashley first.
Meanwhile, former Hammer Danny Gabbidon thinks Benitez would see West Ham as an attractive proposition.
Adam Abrahams claims West Ham is 'bigger' than Newcastle
He said: “He wouldn't want to jump from the frying pan straight into the fire, where he's going into a club where the owners are controlling things and not giving him the tools to do the job probably.
"But he would probably look at West Ham's squad and think 'there's a lot more potential in this squad’.
"And if he was given the right amount of transfer funds to bring in a few more players, he could probably make a go of things with what West Ham have as a squad."
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