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The Liverpool Echo have published an exclusive interview with Everton manager Rafa Benitez.

The Merseyside outlet asked the Blues boss to recall the time when he was made aware of the vacancy at the Club.

"Where was I when I got that call? I was at home," Benitez told the paper. "I live in the city and a lot of my friends are already Evertonians. It's not that all my friends are red. Some are red and some are blue, and the family is the same - so it's fine.

"But when it happened, my wife works with one of the branches of her charity in West Kirby - and they loved me before, but they love me even more now!

"They were very happy when they heard the possibility and they said 'you must go there!'

"From the very beginning I was excited. It has been so many years since I was managing Liverpool and I want to compete again.

"I was happy to come back then and I had different options around the world but I wanted to find a club where I could compete.

"This was a great opportunity. The owners have ambition and they want to compete, they want to do well and there is the new stadium so everything was fine. It was just a question of agreeing that this was the right solution for me and for them."

The Athletic reports Rafa Benitez will remain at Everton despite believed interest on a return to Newcastle United.

There has been speculation that a new managerial appointment will occur following the Magpies' takeover, but journalist George Caulkin says a move to take the Spaniard back is near impossible.

“They have accepted – reluctantly – that it won’t [happen]," the reporter writes. "Benitez is honourable and has a simple rule: he doesn’t break contracts."

And finally, the Blues are rumoured to be exploring the possibility of signing Borussia Monchengladbach forward Marcus Thuram in the January window, according to Calciomercato.

The 24-year-old has only featured twice this season due to injury, but recorded 23 goal involvements last season (11 goals, 12 assists).

However, the report adds Everton could face competition from Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund in the race for his signature.