Everton identify Kasper Hjulmand as ‘main candidate’ to replace Rafa Benitez
Everton have identified Kasper Hjulmand as the “main candidate” to replace Rafa Benitez, according to Spanish news outlet Fichajes.
It is claimed that “patience is wearing thin” with Benitez after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Brentford extended Everton’s winless streak to seven games, stretching back to September 25.
Benitez will be given one more game before the Blues board make a decision on whether to pull the trigger, though.
Should the Spaniard be shown the exit door, Hjulmand, currently in charge of Denmark’s national team, is said to be leading the race to replace him.
Hjulmand recently guided Denmark to the top of their World Cup qualifying group, ensuring progress to next year’s showpiece tournament in Qatar, but Fichajes claim it will “not be impossible” to prise him away from international management.
He is said to be aware that he must make the move in order to “push himself and improve”.
Moshiri axe en route?
Farhad Moshiri has never been shy to pull the trigger on a manager before when they are struggling to produce the results.
It’s fair to suggest that Benitez was never given the tools to succeed at Goodison Park, but the ex-Liverpool boss was surely aware of the task ahead of him.
After a promising start, Benitez is now in the midst of a torrid run of results that has left his job hanging in the balance.
With Liverpool, Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Chelsea next up, things don’t get any easier for the Blues and there is a genuine possibility that their winless streak could push into double figures.
Hjulmand would be an interesting choice to replace Benitez given his inexperience in English football, but he did take Denmark to the semi-final of the European Championship during the summer before they narrowly lost to England in extra-time at Wembley.
Whether he could really be tempted to turn down the opportunity of taking his country to the World Cup remains to be seen, however.
For now, Benitez remains Everton manager and he will be devising ways to stop his old club from blitzing the Blues in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday.
In other Everton news, Jeff Stelling has mooted a Blues move for this record-breaking forward live on Sky Sports.
Be sure to follow Goodison News on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on Everton and more exclusive interviews with Kevin Campbell.