Ex-Celtic star Frank McAvennie says he can’t understand why Rafa Benitez is not being considered as a candidate for the Celtic job.

The Spaniard, who won the Champions League with Liverpool in 2005, is currently out of work, and McAvennie believes the Hoops should at least approach the 61-year-old to see if he would be interested:

“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.”

Benitez left Chinese Super League side Dalian Professional earlier this year as he wanted to return to the UK. His family live near Liverpool and his priority is to find a job in the Premier League.

With no English team currently looking at the former Chelsea and Newcastle manager as a potential option, though, it is likely that he would be open to a role north of the border, providing he is given certain assurances.

Finances and direct control over transfers may well be a major stumbling block in negotiations with Benitez, and that is likely why Celtic have decided to look elsewhere.