Everton’s hunt for a new manager has been crushed by raging doubts in the last few weeks.

Nuno Santo was close to being installed as the Toffees’ new manager until questions were raised over his backroom staff and proceedings stalled.

However, a deal for Rafa Benitez is also being put under the microscope with supporters praying for a different head coach.

What’s the word?

With fan pressure increasing on the board, you’d have thought that Farhad Moshiri and co would look at taking a different option.

The Everton hierarchy have been appealed by Lille boss Christophe Galtier but the man that still tops their list is Benitez.

TalkSPORT claimed on Monday that a deal was now in doubt but those reports have been crushed by various sectors.

Alan Myers took to Twitter in the aftermath to issue a four-word response after being questioned whether a deal was off. He answered: “Not true I believe.”

Those words were then backed up by the Mirror who claim that the Spaniard is edging closer to a return to Merseyside.

Fans will be livid

Carlo Ancelotti’s shock departure to Real Madrid will have left a bitter taste in the mouth of Everton supporters.

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They will willingly accept that Real Madrid are a much bigger club than themselves but the Italian exited with unfinished business.

He was meant to take this Everton side to the Champions League but truth be told, there was never any true progression under the 62-year-old.

Everton have since looked at rehiring Roberto Martinez, a man who finished fifth during one season of his short tenure at Goodison Park and despite the way he left, he is a manager who would be favoured by fans.

That’s certainly the case if Benitez arrives. Having dubbed the Toffees a “small club” he is already fighting a battle to get the supporters on side who are staunchly against him signing on the dotted line.

Throw in his allegiances to Liverpool and the lure becomes even more unappealing. The 61-year-old spent six years with Everton’s biggest rivals and it would appear that the Goodison faithful are unwilling to let that slide.

You can understand their fume if he does indeed get appointed but he is one of the most high profile names they could go for.

Galtier is progressive and is coming off the back of a Ligue 1 title win but Benitez has prior experience in the Premier League and has lifted Europe’s premier competition.

He has won 13 titles throughout his career and despite a rocky time in the northeast, he stabilised Newcastle in the top-flight of English football.

Benitez got the Magpies promoted from the Championship and then despite a lack of spending, guided them to mid-table finishes. Therefore, you sense that with the financial backing the Toffees hierarchy traditionally hand a new manager, he’d be able to lift them further up the table.

That said, it’s unlikely supporters will give him the support he needs in order to thrive.

AND in other news, Bye-bye DCL: Everton must swoop for "spectacular" £24m gem with "blistering pace"...