---
title: "Celtic: Pundit stunned by Benitez links"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-benitez-links-lennon-hoops-manager-news-rumours-anlaysis-e47/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-03-12T14:10:09Z"
modified: "2021-03-12T14:10:09Z"
---

# Celtic: Pundit stunned by Benitez links

**Former Newcastle United boss Rafael Benitez is just one manager who has been [linked](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rafa-benitez-celtic-latest-manager-23563877) with the vacant Celtic managerial post in recent weeks.**

Former Premier League striker Marlon Harewood has given the Hoops the green light over a potential deal for the Spaniard.

Benitez, 60, left [Chinese Super League outfit Dalian Professional back in January](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/rafa-benitez-leaves-job-chinese-23371776) and remains out of work despite, being [offered to return to Italian side Napoli](https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1402086/Celtic-news-Rafael-Benitez-next-manager-Napoli-Neil-Lennon).

The Spaniard has led [12](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/rafa-benitez/profil/trainer/1522) different senior sides throughout his career, averaging a [two-year period at each club](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/rafa-benitez/profil/trainer/1522).

Speaking of the possibility of seeing Benitez in the Parkhead dugout, Harewood, talking to [Football FanCast](https://www.footballfancast.com/celtic-news/exclusive-marlon-harewood-excited-by-rafael-benitez-to-celtic-links-neil-lennon-liverpool-champions-league-e47), said:

> “It’d be good if they can get him. Wow, that’d be a massive appointment for them. Obviously, it’s hard when you talk about \[Scottish\] football \[to ignore\] Celtic. Everyone looks forward to the Celtic-Rangers games.”

However, the former forward did have his concerns if Benitez would make the move to Glasgow.

> “It’s hard to get a manager to go up there and be excited, so they obviously have to get a package together for him to go up there.”

\[freshpress-poll id=”348946″\]

### Transfer Tavern take

Benitez was reportedly on a [$15.83m](https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202101/1213866.shtml) (£11.4m) salary at Dalian Professional, with some [believing](https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202101/1213866.shtml) his departure from the club was related to a pending decrease in that number.

Former Hoops boss Neil Lennon’s base salary was thought to be around [£2.4m](https://www.sportekz.com/football/scottish-premiership-managers-salaries/), so, financially, a deal for Benitez looks extremely unlikely.

Celtic also [announced a pre-tax loss of almost £6m](https://www.glasgowtimes.co.uk/news/19090355.celtic-reveal-huge-loss-decrease-revenue-club-say-coronavirus-key-factor/) just last month, so they may not have the cash needed to hand Benitez to lead a Parkhead rebuild.

It remains to be seen who will be the next Hoops boss, but from the outside looking in, we don’t think it will be Benitez.

[***In other news: Could Celtic have another suitor for Edouard?***](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/leeds-united-transfer-rumours/leeds-paul-robinson-urges-whites-to-sign-odsonne-edouard/)