Marco Silva is close to a move to Benfica, but Fulham still want a decision on his future. His contract at Craven Cottage is set to expire this month, and he has not given official confirmation that he is leaving. Silva, 48, has also said the choice is not made yet.
Why Fulham are still waiting for an answer
Silva told goal.com: "To be honest I don't know if for sure I will decide something. I will be the first one to enjoy a different farewell from the players and from the fans because the decision is not made yet. I am going to speak with the club again, like we have been speaking, and after that we are going to decide together."
That leaves both sides in play. BBC Sport say he is close to reaching an agreement with Benfica, while Fulham have kept a renewal offer on the table. The club's position is hardly one of panic, either. Fulham finished 13th and took 49 points from 37 league matches, a solid return even if it was not a season that forced a major reset.
What Benfica are offering
Benfica are pushing hard enough to make this a real choice, not a vague rumour. Goal.com reported the Portuguese club have offered just over £4m a year, while Sports Mole said Fulham are willing to pay €7.5m a year in a new long-term contract that would run until June 2030.
The football side of it matters as well. Benfica finished third in the Primeira Liga with 80 points from 34 matches, so Silva would be stepping into a job with pressure attached. Fulham, by contrast, are asking him to commit to a side that has just completed its best top-flight points return under him.
For now, the cleanest reading is that Silva is weighing up two serious options rather than putting one behind him. Fulham are waiting, Benfica are pushing, and the manager himself has left the door open.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
