Fulham are in advanced talks to appoint Alvaro Arbeloa as their new manager, with Marco Silva set to leave Craven Cottage after five years for Portuguese giants Benfica. Silva's departure follows Benfica losing Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid, prompting the Lisbon club to turn to the former Fulham boss.
Arbeloa, 43, managed Real Madrid on an interim basis at the end of last season, having replaced Xabi Alonso midway through the campaign. Alonso left Madrid for Chelsea, leaving Arbeloa to take the reins for the final 28 matches. Now the former Liverpool and West Ham defender is the lead contender for the Fulham job.
“Fulham in advanced talks to appoint Arbeloa as Marco Silva leaves for Benfica”
Talks are ongoing, and while a full agreement has not been reached, the club are working towards the expectation that Arbeloa will be their next boss. The Spaniard has spent his entire coaching career at Madrid, rising from the youth teams to the interim position last season.
Fulham also held talks with Kieran McKenna, but it would have cost £8m to release him from his contract at Ipswich Town. McKenna has since left Ipswich, saying he wanted a break to spend time with his family, ending that avenue for Fulham.
Arbeloa's playing career included two spells at Real Madrid, as well as stints in the Premier League with Liverpool and West Ham. He will inherit a Fulham side that finished 11th in the Premier League last season, a solid mid-table position that the club will hope to build upon under new leadership.
The departure of Silva, who spent half a decade at the helm, marks the end of an era at Craven Cottage. Benfica's move came swiftly after Mourinho's return to Madrid, a chain of events that has opened the door for Arbeloa to take his first permanent managerial role in English football. Fulham fans will be watching closely as the negotiations progress.