Benfica ‘to target’ Marco Silva as favourite amid Mourinho uncertainty | OneFootball

Benfica are braced for a potential change in the dugout, with Marco Silva emerging as their leading option amid rumours that José Mourinho has held talks with Real Madrid.

A Bola reports that Benfica have already begun succession planning, with president Rui Costa and director-general Mário Branco leading the process, and the Fulham manager viewed as the consensus choice within the hierarchy.

Silva has been linked before. He was considered by Luís Filipe Vieira, and Rui Costa also weighed him up after Roger Schmidt was sacked, with Bruno Lage eventually taking over.

Another factor could aid any move, Branco worked with Silva at Estoril Praia and is not expected to follow Mourinho to Real Madrid.

There has been no formal approach. Responding to the links, Silva, who is in the final stages of his Fulham contract, said he would only talk about Fulham, expressed pride in being in his fifth season, noted the club want to keep him and continue the project, and added that decisions will be taken after the season ends.

Source: Glorioso 1904