Rafa Benitez has reassured Everton that he will not jump ship and return to Newcastle.
Benitez was a popular figure on Tyneside during his three years in charge between 2016 and 2019 and there have been suggestions he could be heading back following the Saudi-backed consortium’s takeover at St James’ Park.
But Benitez says he has given his word to Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri.
Asked if he had been approached about replacing Steve Bruce, he said: ‘No, because I was very clear from the beginning that I gave my word to Everton.