Marco Silva is at the ‘forefront’ of Benfica’s plans to replace Jose Mourinho, with an exit from Fulham now seen as close.
The Portuguese press cover the situation today, with O Jogo, A Bola, Record and others all getting in on the action regarding the Fulham manager’s future.
Fulham to Benfica
A report yesterday stated that Marco Silva is set to leave Fulham this summer. He’s already turned down Nottingham Forest and is open to the idea of joining Benfica.
O Jogo have a similar take. The newspaper reports that while Silva was busy denying reports on Friday, he is at the ‘forefront’ of Benfica’s thinking. They’re looking for a replacement for Jose Mourinho, who is set to return to Real Madrid.
The newspaper then relay comments the Fulham manager has made to DAZN in Portugal regarding his future.
“The Premier League is always a priority,” he said.
“It’s a league that fulfils me; I believe that all coaches have that bug to try it out one day. That has always been the goal, and I won’t hide that it continues to be.
“It’s a league where I like to be and, with the ambition I have, where I want to see my team fighting for other things. But I’ve also never closed doors to anything, I’ve never said that I wouldn’t be in league A, B, C or D in the future. Regardless of controlling all the decisions I may make, the future is open.”
English competition
Record, meanwhile, focus on those same comments but take a different angle for their article. They instead say a mystery English club have made a contract offer to the Fulham coach. According to them, it is not Nottingham Forest.
“There’s a proposal that’s been there for a few months to renew with Fulham, which is already public,” said Silva on the matter.
“And other possible projects within this league. Apparently, at this moment, it’s something that can be arranged to continue in the Premier League.”
Correio da Manhã Weekend report that the doors are open for Marco Silva to go to Benfica because Ruben Amorim has turned them down.
According to the newspaper, Amorim’s refusal ‘opened the doors’ for the Fulham manager. He is now the priority target for President Rui Costa this summer. He has already resigned himself to losing Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid.
In fact, the Benfica president wants to announce Mourinho’s replacement next week. He moved quickly to speak to Amorim but was immediately turned down by the former Manchester United boss. Now he has decided to go for Marco Silva.
He is ‘receptive’ to the approach. Only an offer from of the big five in England could turn his head. A two-year deal with an option of a third waits for him at Benfica. However, CM reports that his wages would be ‘substantially lower’ than the €7m he currently earns at Fulham.
Earning less than at Fulham
A Bola provide similar information in terms of the contract on the table. According to their information, Benfica are preparing a contract valid for two or three seasons.
They also report that Marco Silva has agreed to ‘significantly’ lower his wages, compared to what he’d get at Fulham next season. They echo that Silva is the preferred candidate for Rui Costa and insists that there are already ‘firm bases’ for a negotiation.
The newspaper states that contacts are already underway, although not necessarily with Silva involved. Instead, it is likely his agent, Jorge Mendes, doing the talking. His presence makes the whole matter significantly easier as far as Benfica are concerned.
Benfica are, according to their information, likely to offer him around half of his proposed €7.5m a year salary. Gonçalo Santos, Gonçalo Pedro, and Fernando Ferreira are expected to remain on Marco Silva’s coaching staff too.
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