Reports suggest Rafa Benitez is on his way to Real Madrid…

Rafa Benitez's luck may have just come in as reports suggest he is close to being named the new manager of Real Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti is apparently on his way out after a trophyless season at the Santiago Bernabeu, and Napoli boss Benitez is the favourite to replace the Italian in the hotseat. Filippo Ricci, Spanish football correspondent for Gazzetta dello Sport, revealed the news on Twitter on Wednesday, with Gianluca Di Marzio (the man who broke the Pep Guardiola to Bayern Munich story) backing up his claims:

'Napoli's Spanish manager had reached an agreement in principle with West Ham United for next season, but this morning scenarios changed quickly: Benitez has had a direct contact with Hammer's chairman and he has declined the offer of the English club because... because Real Madrid is strongly interested in him. Yes,' wrote Di Marzio.

'Liverpool (which has contacted Klopp too in case they decide to change manager) and Manchester City have tried some indirect contacts, but Real is ahead in negotiations.

'The negotiation between the parts is advanced, the contacts are continuing: and so Rafa Benitez is Ancelotti's successor? Real Madrid's chairman, Florentino Perez, is seriously thinking about him, he's ready to make a revolution after this season.'

Benitez has been successful in La Liga before, winning the title with Valencia in 2001/02 and 2003/04 before leaving for Liverpool where he lifted the Champions League.