Could Rafael Benitez be moving north of the border? (Picture: AMA/Getty Images)

Rafael Benitez’s odds to become the next permanent Celtic manager have tumbled dramatically this week with doubts over his future at Newcastle growing.

The Spaniard’s contract at St James’ Park expires this summer and talks over an extension don’t appear to be going anywhere fast.

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The situation at Celtic is also uncertain, with Neil Lennon currently in place as interim manager after Brendan Rodgers left to take over at Leicester in February.

Lennon remains favourite to get the job on a full-time basis, but the odds on Benitez taking over at Celtic Park have fallen from sharply since the turn of the week.


Neil Lennon remains favourite to take the job full time (Picture: Getty Images)

Ladbrokes have seen Benitez drop from 20/1 to 5/1 to be the next Celtic manager after a flurry of bets on Tuesday and Wednesday.



Betfair have the 58-year-old at an even shorter price of just 5/2 to be the next permanent boss of the Bhoys.

Benitez has been at Newcastle since 2016 (Picture: Newcastle United)

Benitez spoke to Spanish publication Marca about his contract situation last month, saying: ‘The owner knows it – me and my team are looking for a future project (which is) competitive and ambitious. Let’s see if we are in the same line.

‘It does not depend on what I believe. I stayed in Newcastle and it was a high risk. We could not save them the first year. We missed a couple of games, but the next we went up.

‘It’s a top club, and to stay was a sign that we are professional coaches. We’re in it to win titles. Then the idea was to invest to enter the top 10, but the money did not reach the expected level.

‘Now we are once again solving a problem of that lack of investment. Each owner manages his club as he wants.

‘Newcastle has everything to be there, in the top eight, but it’s not happening. I hope it is done in the future.’

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