Sources: Newcastle United consortium told Benitez deal is '99% done'
The Newcastle United consortium working on the takeover have been told that Rafael Benitez's appointment at Everton is "99 per cent done", Football Insider has learned.
The Spaniard, 61, is set to be named the Merseysiders' new boss in the next 48 hours after overcoming doubts over taking the position.
An industry source has told Football Insider that there are only formalities to be tied up before Benitez takes over as Carlo Ancelotti's successor.
The Newcastle consortium are now digesting the news relayed to them by Benitez's camp.
It will be a huge blow to the Saudi-backed public investment fund (PiF) at a time when they are pushing ahead with their Newcastle takeover this summer.
Financier Amanda Staveley and her allies had been told Benitez was very keen to return to Newcastle.
But the prospect of taking over at Everton, backed by their generous owner Farhad Moshiri, has held sway.
There is none of the uncertainty surrounding the takeover that has already suffered a series of blows.
Nonetheless, the latest situation is all parties are confident the Premier League will sanction the £300million PiF takeover after arbitration proceedings in July.
Everton have been searching for a successor to Ancelotti since he quit for Real Madrid at the start of this month.
The final decision to hand the job to Benitez has beenmade by owner Moshiri, although billionaire Alisher Usmanov also has an influence.