Marco Silva looking to take Fulham player with him after Benfica move

Fulham’s Marco Silva era is over, but Benfica’s plans for the summer suggest the Portuguese club are not finished looking at Craven Cottage.

The London club have already seen Silva depart after five years in charge. The Portuguese coach is expected to take over at Benfica.

Now, according to Correio da Manhã, one of the manager’s most trusted Fulham players has emerged as a target for the Lisbon side.

Silva wants reunion with trusted player

Harry Wilson is reportedly on Silva’s shortlist as Benfica begin shaping their squad for next season.

The timing is significant because the Wales international’s contract expires at the end of June, meaning he could leave Fulham as a free agent. That has naturally attracted attention from several clubs of course.

But Harry Wilson’s connection with Marco Silva goes back to the manager’s first season at Fulham. Then the pair continued working together throughout Fulham’s Premier League years.

While injuries disrupted some campaigns, Wilson remained an important squad member and a player Silva consistently trusted.

According to Correio da Manhã, that relationship has now put him firmly on Benfica’s radar.

The report states Silva would like to take the 29-year-old with him to Portugal. Instead of paying a transfer fee, Benfica could offer a signing-on bonus.

Wilson currently earns around €3.5m (£3m) net per season, and the Portuguese newspaper believes his salary should not be an obstacle if Benfica decide to move forward.

Premier League clubs also watching

Benfica may have Marco Silva’s influence working in their favour, but they are not alone.

Correio da Manhã report that Everton remain interested after trying to sign Wilson during the January transfer window. At the time, Silva reportedly blocked any deal and considered the winger too important to lose.

Aston Villa are also credited with interest and could enter the race in the coming weeks.

That leaves Fulham facing a familiar challenge. Losing a manager often creates uncertainty around players who were particularly close to him. Wilson appears to fit that category.

However, with his contract running down, Premier League interest growing and Silva now established as the driving force behind Benfica’s recruitment plans, Fulham may soon discover that losing their manager was only the beginning of the story.