Everton have entered a third week without a manager after Carlo Ancelotti returned to Real Madrid, and they have continued their search for his successor, with a clutch of names among the candidates, including former Liverpool boss Benitez and ex-Red Gerrard.

 

The Toffees have held talks with Benitez and it has emerged they have been positive and he is close to returning to Merseyside, although this time on the blue side.

 

 

Ex-Premier League midfielder O’Hara has insisted he does not see any problems in Benitez managing the Goodison Park outfit, as even though he is considered a legend at Anfield he is no Gerrard, and is a manager who goes to top clubs like Everton.

 

“It is not Steven Gerrard, is it?”, O’Hara said on talkSPORT.

 

 

“I mean if it is Steven Gerrard is going to be the Everton boss then I can understand it.

 

“Being a manager is a tough gig, there are not a lot of jobs out there.

 

 

“I know [he is a legend at Liverpool] but what do you want him to do?

 

“Turn down a Premier League football club because he was once the Liverpool manager.

 

“It is not like he has been the Liverpool manager his whole career.

 

“It is not like he has been born and raised in Liverpool.

 

“He is a manager that goes to top football clubs.”

 

O’Hara explained that he can see no reason why Benitez would even think about turning down an opportunity to manage a big Premier League club in Everton just because he once managed their rivals Liverpool.

 

“I do not see it [Benitez being an ex-Liverpool boss] being a major problem, I really do not.

 

“I mean look he is a professional.

 

“He has been offered a Premier League job at a massive football club in Everton, as if he was going to turn that down because he was once the manager [of Liverpool], you cannot.”

 

The Toffees have also held talks with ex-Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Nuno Espirito Santo, but Benitez is the frontrunner for the job, with the Spaniard also having additional Premier League experience managing Newcastle United.