Fulham head coach Marco Silva is among the candidates to take charge of south west London rivals Chelsea.
The Telegraph reported that the Chelsea hierarchy are considering Silva, along with Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso, to replace Liam Rosenior, who was sacked last week after losing five Premier League games in a row without scoring.
Iraola is set to leave Bournemouth at the end of the season, while Alonso has been out of work since leaving Real Madrid in January.
As for Silva, his contract expires this summer, and Chelsea have reportedly reached out to his representatives.
Fulham offered 48-year-old Silva a new bumper deal in November that would make him among the highest-paid managers in the top-flight, but the former Everton and Watford boss is yet to put pen to paper, reportedly keeping his options open. Owner Shahid Khan is eager to tie Silva, who has been at Craven Cottage for five years, down to a new contract.
A recent report in The i Paper suggested Silva’s decision could hinge on Fulham qualifying for European football this term. The Whites are 10th with four games to go and just two points off sixth, which could be a Champions League spot provided Aston Villa win the Europa League and finish fifth in the league.
However, just four points separate sixth-placed Brighton and 12th-placed Sunderland, teeing up a thrilling race for the European spots, which the top eight finishers would currently secure.
Fulham clinched a vital 1-0 win over Villa on Saturday to keep their European dreams alive.
Highly ambitious, Silva has previously turned down lucrative contracts to manage in the Saudi Pro League, his intent to stay in Europe.
Silva was a candidate for the Tottenham job ahead of the 2025-26 season. They opted for Brentford’s Thomas Frank, who lasted under eight months in North London.
Should Chelsea appoint Silva, the move would be hugely controversial among the Fulham fanbase, given their widespread distaste for the fellow SW6 outfit. It’s an offer Silva is unlikely to turn down, however, regardless of his affinity and legacy at Craven Cottage.
Chelsea are reportedly set to hold a robust recruitment process and not rush the appointment of their next head coach. Calum McFarlane is taking interim charge until the summer, and oversaw a 1-0 win over Leeds to book their place in the FA Cup final.