Next Manager to Leave: Angry Benitez value at 12/1 after transfer window woes

Max Liu
01 September 2017

Has Rafa had enough of life at Newcastle?

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Frank de Boer and Slaven Bilic need to turn results around fast if they're to keep their jobs which is why they head the 'next manager to leave' betting. But if you're looking for generous odds then you can't beat a reportedly unhappy Rafael Benitez, says Max Liu...

"If you think De Boer and Bilic can turn things around then the value bet is undoubtedly Rafael Benitez at 12/1."

De Boer and Bilic under pressure

The transfer window has closed and, with some managers reportedly unhappy at their clubs' failure to bring in players, there's plenty of speculation about which Premier League boss(es) might be heading for the exit fairly soon.

On Betfair, Frank de Boer is the favourite, at 4/6, to be the first to lose his job this season.

The Dutchman has so far presided over three defeats out of three at Crystal Palace and reportedly held crisis talks with the club's board after last Saturday's defeat to Swansea. De Boer has promised to adapt his methods but, if the Eagles lose their next match, away to Burnley, then he will almost certainly be sacked.

West Ham have also made a poor start to the season and their manager Slaven Bilic is next in the betting at 6/4 to be the next manager to leave. The Hammers were poor last season and, although there's a reluctance to fire the popular Bilic, the club hierarchy will have to act soon if results don't improve.

Benitez a big price to walk out

If you think De Boer and Bilic can turn things around then the value bet is undoubtedly Rafael Benitez at 12/1. That's a generous price when you consider the Newcastle manager is reportedly fuming over his club's failure to sign sufficient players in the transfer window.

When Newcastle were promoted back to the Premier League at the end of last season, Benitez was clear with Magpies owner Mike Ashley that they would need investment to stay up. Ashley promised Benitez "every last penny" but Newcastle finish the window with a net spend of £20 million which is pretty meagre for a top flight club by today's standards.

Benitez's squad was built to get Newcastle out of the Championship and he knows that staying in the Premier League requires different personnel. Newcastle's biggest signing this summer was Jacob Murphy from Norwich for £12m which hardly demonstrates a willingness to spend to give the manager the tools he needs. Will Benitez soon decide that enough is enough and walk away from St James's Park?

Conte a wildcard at 20/1?

Another manager who's unimpressed by his club's failure to buy players in the window is Antonio Conte. Almost as soon as Chelsea had lifted the Premier League trophy at the end of last season, there was a fractious atmosphere at Stamford Bridge. First, Conte told Diego Costa by text message that he was no longer part of his plans. Then Chelsea were beaten to the signing of Romelu Lukaku by Manchester United.

Chelsea have since spent a lot of money, including record signing Alvaro Morata and deadline day acquisition Danny Drinkwater, but Conte is likely to be dismayed by the club's business this summer. So far, Chelsea have kept it together on the field, with impressive wins over Tottenham and Everton, but if results go awry the manager and board will soon clash and 20/1 on him going next might be worth considering.

Oh and did we mention that Costa is now staying at Chelsea? The Spanish striker is a challenging personality at the best of times but, with relations with Conte at an all-time low, and Costa disappointed to have missed out on a move to Atletico Madrid, it's likely that sparks will fly.