Marco Silva confirmed tonight that he had received approaches from the Saudi Pro League but insisted his ‘total commitment to Fulham ‘will continue’.
The Portuguese head coach has so far refused to sign a long-term contract extension at Craven Cottage as he is waiting to see whether Fulham’s ambition matches his own. He publicly urged the club’s hierarchy to speed the acquisition of new signings, referencing the seven members of the squad that finished tenth on their return to the top flight that Fulham have lost in the last month, and acknowledged that Aleksandar Mitrovic’s situation ‘was not ideal,’ but passionately reaffirmed his commitment to the Whites.
Silva succinctly confirmed that he had received an offer from Al-Alhy in recent days, but refused to discuss the specifics of that conversation ahead of Fulham’s first game in the Premier League Summer Series against Brentford in Philadelphia tomorrow.
“I answered for my club. I will not talk about this situation here. I didn’t come here to talk about offers and the situation. I don’t like to use a lot of words, I prefer to do it with actions. Last time, an official offer, during last season as well, two or three times, and I didn’t speak about that situation. I put actions on a daily basis and have shown my commitment every time since I joined the club. My commitment to this football club is total and it will continue.
Silva was inevitably asked about Mitrovic – and confirmed he would feature in Fulham’s fixture against their near neighbours tomorrow.
“Let’s talk clearly about the situation of Mitrovic. It’s not he ideal scenario, I have to do tell you of course. As you know he’s not going to play tomorrow, he didn’t play last Wednesday, he’s not working properly with his team-mates and when I say it’s not the ideal scenario, this is the situation. I have spoken to Mitro already, he knows my opinion. I’m here to give my best for all my players to protect them in everything I can.”
The Fulham boss highlighted the need for new players, but rejected any suggestion that his failure to sign a new contract was the reason for a lack of signings so far.
“The situation is more than just one player being linked. We lost seven players from last season, the main ones are still here and under me but when you lose a big number of players and have to prepare for a Premier League season and you didn’t sign at least one, at least to make the fans a bit more happy with the situation, this is the biggest thing for me.
Why don’t the players believe that I will stay? I am under contract at Fulham. Do you think that you don’t sign players because the player is in the last year of his contract or if he has five years on his contract? I am speaking to players every single day and if I speak to players it is because I am preparing the future of this club.
It’s a hard job to get good players through door when your Fulham size to improve on last season the club has made loads of offers agents hold it up. Clubs don’t want to lose best players. And if Silva is talking every day there all in it together . And it would help if he signed contract lots players like to know the manager staying new manager may not fancy them
The blame lies with Tony Khan he keeps doing this every transfer window, he has had so much time this summer to bring players in early but no he refuses to cough up and the transfers take for ever I just wish his father would relieve him of his job and put someone with football know how in his place.
I couldn’t agree more with what you’ve just written John B. Tony Khan is used to the NFL, where The Jaguars will not be relegated. I think it is possible that Marco has told him to get his finger out with transfers or he’s off. TK seems to ‘revel’ in pulling off last day signings, but by the 1st of September our depleted squad will be four hard games into the season and looking up the table from near the bottom. At the time I write this it would seem that TK (or maybe his dad) has listened: medical at Motspur Park tomorrow for Calvin Bassey – and closing on a deal for Mohammed Salisu – and ‘interesting’ connections with Demarai Gray and Raul Jimenez – and this lad Morato at Benfica still appears to be the one Marco wants… I’m really looking forward to the Hoffenheim game to see who runs out in a white shirt. I think our chairman should consider a Director Of Football who knows the game. COYW!!!