Fulham manager Marco Silva linked with Al-Hilal move

Fulham manager Marco Silva is being linked with a move to Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal.

Al-Hilal parted company with outgoing manager Jorge Jesus following the club's defeat to Al-Ahli in the AFC Champions League semi-finals.

Fulham boss Silva has emerged as one of the frontrunners to replace Jesus, with the Portuguese's contract with the Cottagers expiring in the summer of 2026.

Al-Hilal are believed to be keen to appoint a new manager promptly to afford the new boss ample time to prepare for the revamped Club World Cup, which will begin in the United States on 14th June.

Ex-Hull City, Watford and Everton manager Silva was previously linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League in the summer of 2023 with Al-Ahli and Al-Hilal both reportedly interested in his services.

The 47-year-old has done a terrific job at Fulham, with Silva steering the club to the Championship title in his first season in charge in 2021/22 before establishing the Cottagers in the Premier League with finishes of 10th and 13th in their first two campaigns back in the top flight.

Fulham chairman Tony Khan has been on record declaring his admiration for Silva as a manager, telling BBC Radio London last month:

Marco is a huge, huge asset to Fulham Football Club. He is such an amazing person and he is so important to the football club.

Reports suggest Silva is currently stalling on a new contract at Craven Cottage, opening the door for Al-Hilal to tempt the Portuguese tactician to try his hand at the ever-improving Saudi Pro League.

Al-Hilal are currently second in the Saudi Pro League table, six points behind Laurent Blanc's Al-Ittihad.

Should Silva accept a potential offer to manage Al-Hilal, he will inherit a squad including ex-Fulham talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Joao Cancelo, Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic.

Silva is not the only high-profile manager to be reportedly interesting Al-Hilal, with Simone Inzaghi, Jose Mourinho and Nuno Espirito Santo also believed to be in consideration for the vacant position.

James Wilson

• Fulham F.C.
• Premier League
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