Premier League clubs dealt blow as it emerges Rafael Benitez has world-record £20m buy-out clause at Dalian Yifang
Any Premier League club hoping to hire Rafael Benitez as their manager would have to pay a huge £20m buyout fee to his current club Dalian Yifang, according to reports.
The Spanish tactician has been linked with the West Ham hot seat following the Hammers' poor run of form under Manuel Pellegrini.
However, the Chinese Super League have protected themselves from an approach for Benitez by inserting a clause which would see them significantly compensated.
According to the ex-Newcastle manager has little interest in leaving the club yet having only joined in July and with two years left on his current deal.
However, it is said the cost of Benitez leaving will significantly decrease when he enters the final year of his contract.
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The news will come as a blow for London Stadium chiefs, who have courted Benitez for years and came close to hiring him before he joined Real Madrid in 2015.
The former Liverpool and Chelsea boss has also been linked to Arsenal, who are on the hunt for a new manager after dismissing Unai Emery last week.
The 59-year-old, who fell out with Newcastle's owner Mike Ashley before leaving in the summer, has made no secret of his desire to return to the Premier League in the future.