Marco Silva is closing in on a move away from Fulham, with the Portuguese coach nearing an agreement to become Benfica’s next manager.
The 48-year-old’s future at Craven Cottage has been the subject of growing speculation in recent weeks and developments in Portugal have now increased the likelihood of his departure.
Silva’s current contract with Fulham is due to expire this month and, despite efforts from the club to keep him, no renewal has yet been agreed.
Fulham have presented their head coach with an offer to extend his stay in west London, but discussions over a new deal have failed to produce a breakthrough.
That uncertainty has opened the door for Benfica, who have identified Silva as their preferred candidate following the departure of Jose Mourinho.
Mourinho has agreed to return to Real Madrid, where he previously managed the club between 2010 and 2013.
Negotiations between Silva and the Portuguese giant have accelerated in recent days, with the BBC indicating an agreement is now within touching distance.
Marco Silva is closing in on a move away from Fulham, with the Portuguese coach nearing an agreement to become Benfica’s next manager
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Should the deal be completed, it would bring an end to a successful spell in charge of Fulham that has transformed the club’s fortunes.
Silva arrived at Craven Cottage in July 2021 after his previous stint in English football with Everton.
At the time, Fulham had just suffered relegation from the Premier League and were preparing for life back in the Championship.
Jose Mourinho is leaving Benfica in order to return to Real Madrid
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The Portuguese coach immediately delivered a response, guiding the club back to the top flight at the first attempt and restoring optimism among supporters.
Since then, he has established Fulham as a competitive Premier League side, earning praise for both results and style of play.
The Cottagers finished 11th in the table last season, ending the campaign level on points with Chelsea after another solid year in England’s top division.
Despite that progress, Silva now appears increasingly likely to return to his homeland.
Benfica are searching for a new manager after Mourinho’s departure to Real Madrid.
The veteran coach recently agreed a three-year contract with the Spanish giants, bringing an end to his time in charge of the Lisbon club.
Marco Silva has worked wonders during his time with Fulham
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Mourinho guided Benfica to a third-place finish in the Primeira Liga before receiving the opportunity to replace Alvaro Arbeloa at the Bernabeu.
His exit has left one of Portugal’s biggest clubs looking for a successor capable of restoring them to the summit of domestic football and challenging in Europe.
Silva’s work at Fulham has made him one of the most highly regarded Portuguese coaches outside his home country, and Benfica believe he is the ideal candidate to take the club forward.
While there has been no official confirmation from either side, talks are believed to be at an advanced stage.
That leaves Fulham facing the prospect of losing the manager who oversaw their return to the Premier League and helped establish them as a stable top-flight outfit.
Who ends up coming in as his replacement remains to be seen.
