BENITEZ APPROACHES CHELSEA FOR THE JOB!

Chelsea`s quest for a new coach took a new - and unexpected - twist with the rumours from Spain that the club is seriously considering an approach from Rafa Benitez to take over the Stamford Bridge hotseat.

Today`s papers in Spain are reporting a radio programme scoop, over the weekend, that the (current) Liverpool coach made it known to the Chelsea management, via an intermediary, to let Chelsea know that Benitez would be interested in switching clubs should Chelsea make a formal approach.

Although the details are very sketchy, it would appear that Chelsea are seriously considering this approach, and that Benitez is on a shortlist that has now been narrowed down to Benitez, Mark Hughes and Luiz Philip Scolari. Despite the latter having been recommended by Fabio Capello, Chelsea are doubtful of the Brazilian, as he doesn`t speak English. Furthermore, his commitment to the Portuguese national team means that he could only be available by the end of June, a timeframe considered too late for Chelsea`s ambitions.

Whilst Mark Hughes has a number of supporters amongst the Chelsea hierarchy, apparently Rafa Benitez is rapidly gaining favour with Roman Abramovich, who has seen that he is a coach who can deliver regular participation in the finals of the Champions League, including actually winning the trophy.

What is surprising is the news that it is Benitez himself who made his interest in the vacant Chelsea position known. From what we read, Benitez has become deeply disillusioned with the complicated politics of Liverpool`s ownership and the unresolved dislike between the club`s co-owners. The fact that Messrs Gillett and Hicks are unable to be in the same room together means that Benitez` transfer plans for the summer are to be put on hold. Benitez foresees that an inability to strengthen key areas of the squad will inevitably lead to continued domestic under-achievement at Liverpool next season, with the resulting criticism.

For this reason, Benitez is attracted to the idea of working at a club where a considerably larger transfer budget could allow the Spanish coach to fashion a team that will combine the motivation needed to win cups with the necessary stamina for a long League campaign.

But Benitez` approach to Chelsea is said to be conditional. Aware that the Liverpool fans will take the coach`s 'defection` badly, he has asked that Chelsea not insist that Benitez target Liverpool players for a switch to Stamford Bridge. Those of us who remember the running saga of Steven Gerrard`s two flirtations with Chelsea will be relieved at this. Instead, Benitez will work to identify transfers on the basis of his extensive knowledge of Spanish football coupled with cherry-picking players who shine at the European Championships. Few names are mentioned other than Spain striker David Villa.

On the Chelsea side, Roman Abramovich is one of the main defenders of Benitez. Other key members of his entourage are said to be arguing that, despite recent animosity between Chelsea and Liverpool, the excellent atmosphere in which the recent Champions League semi-final took place might placate the Chelsea fans.

Whilst we consider that these rumours could have been planted by Benitez` people to unblock Liverpool`s transfer budget, there is too much detail in the Spanish radio revelations for the whole story to be completely baseless.

This particular hack is sceptical as to whether Rafa Benitez, Chelsea manager, would deliver the attractive football that Roman apparently craves. Neither do we consider that notoriously grumpy Benitez would help improve Chelsea`s public image. Nevertheless, there is no doubt that he can deliver. We would be curious to know what other fans think of this possibility.