Silva is finally set to be offered an extension – despite sack rumours with Fulham lurking near the relegation zone
Northern Football Correspondent
Fulham owner Shahid Khan is in London for fresh talks with Marco Silva over a new contract.
The i Paper understands that talks are scheduled for this week with Silva’s representatives over extending a deal that runs out in the summer – with Fulham seemingly keen to resolve the uncertainty over their manager’s future after a disappointing run of results that has seen them lose five of their six Premier League games.
That has left the Cottagers just a point above the relegation zone and there has been speculation that they are considering their managerial options amid frustration that Silva is yet to commit his future to the club.
But a detailed new proposal for a contract renewal is understood to be on the table for Silva if he chooses to sign it. That has long been the preference of Fulham’s hierarchy.
It is believed that a swift resolution is unlikely, with Silva known to take his time before committing to a project. Silva is an ambitious coach, has been in-demand from other clubs and is likely to want to hear detailed plans for how to take the club future in the future.
Silva has expressed concerns about Khan’s project (Photo: Reuters)
The backdrop to fresh talks is a difficult summer transfer window in which Silva spoke about his “frustration” at the market on several occasions. He accused the club of being “passive” in the market and admitted after the transfer deadline that he had “expected more” in terms of first team additions.
Form has nosedived in recent weeks and the competitive nature of this year’s Premier League is clearly focusing minds in boardrooms. Unlike last season the promoted clubs are winning games and the bottom three clubs have all changed managers before the turn of the year, which adds to the uncertainty at Fulham.
Their performance at Everton was a concern and Silva admitted his team “got what they deserved” in a 2-0 defeat at Hill Dickinson Stadium.
But it would be a hugely unpopular decision for Fulham to part ways with Silva and he would not struggle to find another job.
He was a contender for the Nottingham Forest job recently and was on Tottenham’s shortlist in the summer before they opted for Thomas Frank but his current contract is understood to contain a £15m release clause.
Silva has been at Craven Cottage for four years and renewed his contract in 2023 after turning down highly lucrative offers from Saudi Arabia to remain at Fulham. This is his fifth season at the club, which he led to promotion from the Championship in his first season.
They have become a stable top flight club under the former Everton and Watford boss, with Silva leading them to finishing positions of 10th, 13th and 11th in the subsequent seasons. Last year they set a Premier League club record by earning 54 points over the campaign.
The problem is where they go from here, with sources close to Silva saying he is ambitious and keen for the project to match his own aspirations. It is only three weeks since Khan said that Silva was part of the club’s “long-term plans”.
