Marco Silva: United’s interest in peril as new rival emerges for Fulham boss | OneFootball

Marco Silva remains high on Manchester United’s shortlist to become the long-term successor to Ruben Amorim – but a new rival has now emerged for the Fulham manager, according to the latest report.

A summer reset

INEOS plan on waiting until the summer to appoint their permanent head coach, with Michael Carrick having taken the reins as caretaker until the end of the season.

Three wins on the trot have transformed the mood around Old Trafford, and put United in a strong position to secure Champions League qualification. If Carrick were to guide the Red Devils back into Europe’s elite competition, the calls for him to be given the role permanently would reach fever pitch.

However, the club’s hierarchy are intent on appointing a top-level candidate with experience in the Premier League, given the failure of the last two coaches who arrived from outside England.

Thomas Tuchel and Roberto De Zerbi – currently in charge of England and Olympique Marseille, but who previously enjoyed spells at Chelsea and Brighton respectively – are two of the frontrunners.

Two other national team managers, Carlo Ancelotti and Mauricio Pochettino, are also in contention, while a host of Premier League coaches are in contention as well, including Silva.

Ready for the step up

INEOS are big fans of the 48-year-old tactician, who hails from Lisbon. He was one of the options considered to replace Erik ten Hag in June 2024, before the pivot towards extending the Dutchman’s contract.

This admiration has not dwindled, with Silva one of the names in the running to replace his compatriot at the Theatre of Dreams.

However, Benfica are understood to have identified the Portuguese coach as a “potential replacement” for Jose Mourinho, who took charge of the Eagles in September.

Sports Boom reveals the ‘Special One’ is “struggling to meet expectations” at the Estádio da Luz, with Benfica stranded in third in Liga Portugal, nine points adrift of table-topping Porto.

“Despite being appointed amid great fanfare earlier this term, Mourinho is struggling to have the kind of impact Benfica’s notoriously demanding support base expected given his glittering array of achievements in the game.

“Indeed, 200 hardcore fans recently threatened to storm the club’s training complex after demanding an audience with The Special One and senior members of a squad which sits third in the table behind arch-rivals Sporting Lisbon and Porto. ”

The report states Silva would “not baulk at the opportunity” to take over from Mourinho in the city he hails from. But it does mention

Final Thoughts – A Portuguese merry-go-round

If Silva were to succeed Mourinho, it would rule him out of the running to be Amorim’s long-term replacement.

But, in a bizarre twist, it would also halt the ex-United boss’s chances of becoming Benfica’s manager – a role Amorim has been strongly linked to since leaving Old Trafford.

Despite INEOS’s admiration, Silva is unlikely to be one of the club’s primary targets, meaning that while this merry-go-round in the Portuguese capital will have a strong link with the Red Devils, United will not be missing out should the Fulham boss swap London for Lisbon.

Featured image Carl Recine via Getty Images

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