Barry Fry insists that Everton appointing Rafael Benitez would be a disastrous PR move, amid reports that Nuno Santo is the favourite to take the reins at Goodison Park.

The Toffees are still on the lookout for a replacement to Carlo Ancelotti, who left the club to move to Real Madrid.

Various managers have been linked with the club but reports last week suggested that there was interest in appointing Benitez.

The Spaniard is available after leaving Dalian Professional in China and has not managed in England since 2019, when he departed Newcastle United.

Of course, Benitez is best known in England for his spell at Liverpool, spending six years at Anfield, winning both the FA Cup and the Champions League.

And Fry, the Peterborough United Director of Football, claims that a deal to appoint the ex-Reds boss would not go down well with supporters.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, he said: “All the Evertonian fans hate Liverpool, any connection at all they hate.

“To fetch him back, wow, that wouldn’t be a good move PR-wise but then again, he’s supposed to be a good manager.”

Everton ultimately finished 10th in the Premier League under Ancelotti and need to find a new boss to line up with their ambitions of European football.