Rafa Benitez emerged as a surprise candidate for the Bournemouth job before they appointed Jonathan Woodgate as their new manager.
Sportsmail has learned that Benitez was proposed to the Cherries by intermediaries at the beginning of their search for a successor to Jason Tindall.
Having successfully managed in the Championship, winning the title with Newcastle in 2017, Benitez would have represented a significant coup for promotion-chasing Bournemouth with his CV and track record in the division.
Cherries chiefs would have been keen to discuss the role with the former Liverpool, Chelsea and Real Madrid boss and tentative enquiries were made to ascertain his availability as the potential opportunity was explored.