---
title: "Celtic: Frank McAvennie urges Hoops to make Rafael Benitez move"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-frank-mcavennie-urges-hoops-to-make-rafael-benitez-move/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Charlie Smith"
section: "Celtic News"
published: "2021-04-18T08:35:16Z"
modified: "2021-04-18T08:35:16Z"
---

# Celtic: Frank McAvennie urges Hoops to make Rafael Benitez move

**Former Celtic striker Frank McAvennie has urged the Hoops to make contact with Rafael Benitez after taking a hit in their attempts to land Eddie Howe.**

The Hoops are now [doubting](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-celtic-fear-howe-may-be-having-second-thoughts-after-wonderful-offer/) Howe’s interest in the vacant Parkhead role after initially [verbally agreeing](https://www.footballinsider247.com/sources-howe-reaches-verbal-agreement-with-celtic-after-london-talks/) on a move with the former Bournemouth manager.

\[freshpress-quiz id=”350784″\]

Howe has [spoken to Crystal Palace](https://www.footballinsider247.com/celtic-target-howe-on-three-man-palace-shortlist/) ahead of potentially replacing Roy Hodgson, with the Englishman’s [representatives convincing him](https://www.givemesport.com/1677055-exclusive-eddie-howe-told-he-could-get-the-crystal-palace-job-despite-celtic-links) he can still get a job in the Premier League this summer.

Talking to [Football Insider](https://www.footballinsider247.com/mcavennie-celtic-told-to-make-move-for-benitez-after-behind-the-scenes-developments/), McAvennie urged his former club to go and get Benitez, describing a potential deal as ‘huge’, as he said:

> “There was talk in the press about Rafa coming up here.
>
> “He’s another man who wants to run things his own way, it’s why he was run out of Newcastle, \[Mike\] Ashley wanted to control everything.
>
> “But he’s out of the job so why don’t Celtic just go and get him? He’d be a great manager at Parkhead and he could come now.
>
> “I hope we’ve gone and asked him because if Newcastle can get him, then so can Celtic. It would be huge.”

\[freshpress-poll id=”351881″\]

### Transfer Tavern take

McAvennie is correct when citing talk about Benitez moving to Glasgow in the press. [Reports](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/breaking-rafa-benitez-appointed-celtic-23374588) way back in January, when Neil Lennon was still in charge, suggested that the former Newcastle manager was set to be appointed.

Of course, a move never materialised, and we don’t think it would be possible this time around, either. Benitez [confirmed](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/rafa-benitez-ready-to-return-and-has-premier-league-in-his-sights-k95008mtk) that he would like to return to management in the Premier League, while was also on a whopping [£12m salary](https://talksport.com/football/586509/rafael-benitez-mike-ashley-china/) at Chinese Super League club Dalian Yifang.

Lennon was on [£2.4m per year](https://www.sportingfree.com/football/celtic-fc-players-salaries/), so financially you wouldn’t expect the Hoops to be able to compete for the Spaniard.

***In other news: Premier League club having second thoughts on deal for Celtic star, find out more [here](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/celtic-transfer-rumours/celtic-leicester-having-second-thoughts-on-edouard/).***