Rafa Benitez on standby for West Ham United job

Rafa Benitez is on standby and wants the West Ham United job if David Moyes is fired, reports the Daily Mail.

The Hammers are 18th in the Premier League after suffering their 13th defeat of the campaign on Saturday.

Tottenham Hotspur ran out 2-0 winners at West Ham’s expense and pressure is mounting on Moyes. His side have won just five games out of the 23 league matches this term.

They face Nottingham Forest on Saturday and a defeat could force the board’s hands.

West Ham are fully behind their manager, but that could change if their relegation scare persists.

Benitez has been out of work since leaving Everton last season and has been linked with Leeds United.

The Spaniard has rejected a couple of offers as he eyes a long-term deal to oversee a build.

The Hammers are yet to pull the trigger on Moyes after seeing Leeds and Southampton struggle to get permanent replacements.

The duo and every other team in the bottom six, except West Ham, have changed managers this season.

They are keen on Mauricio Pochettino and Thomas Tuchel, but both turned down the opportunity to enter into discussions.

The London Stadium club have also considered Portuguese manager Nuno Espirito Santo.

However, they will need to part with around £6 million in compensation to prise him away from Saudi Arabia club Al-Ittihad.

West Ham could also start keeping tabs on Benitez, but they are unlikely to be willing to hand him a long-term contract, given their precarious situation in the league.