Fulham are keen to extend Marco Silva’s contract, but the Portuguese head coach is currently keeping his options open with his focus on the club’s current season, according to the Athletic’s David Ornstein.
The 48 year-old, who has previously turned down approaches from several Saudi Pro League sides as well as suitors from across across Europe, was Nottingham Forest’s first choice to succeed the sacked Ange Postecoglou but did not want to leave the Whites in the middle of the season. His contract at Craven Cottage expires at the end of the season. Ornstein writes that there is goodwill between Silva and the Fulham hierarchy, who are keen to tie down the man who has re-established the club in the top flight, but that the man himself is more focused on Fulham’s upcoming fixtures than his immediate future.
Silva told his pre-match press conference before Saturday’s narrow defeat by league leaders Arsenal:
“I’ve been here for five years, why not more? It’s not something that is going to disrupt our season at all. If I have to, I’m going to speak with you every single week about it. Some news will come, the club will say to you, if not, we have to move on. The right time to speak, it will arrive.”
Since Silva arrived it has been mainly an upward curve. The issue I tend to think is Silva quite rightly sees himself as more than a middle of the table manager whereas the management differs and quite content for us to be steady Eddy type?
Shahid Khan’s recent quote about next stop European football might be positive news with regards to Marco’s future at Fulham as it would no doubt mean heavy investment to first team which Silva would welcome. Unlikely to be until next summer as this season is fast slipping away from being an improvement on the last few though always a chance with a cup victory?
If Silva has not signed before end of 2025 then likely talk has been cheap and he’ll no longer want the frustration of Fulham’s transfer policy.
The debate over Silva’s future goes on; it’s never a dull moment at Craven Cottage! I’m really intrigued now to see if Silva stays. I think, after the latest losses, that it is easy to jump on an Anti-Marco bandwagon, but his positive impact on the club and player morale is easy to take for granted.