Fulham head coach Marco Silva is understood to be close to reaching an agreement to take charge of Benfica.
Silva’s contract at Craven Cottage is set to expire this month, though no official confirmation of his departure has yet been made.
The club have offered their Portuguese head coach a contract renewal, but he is yet to accept the proposal.
Discussions between Silva and Benfica are reported to have progressed significantly in recent days, with an agreement now said to be within reach.
Benfica are searching for a successor to Jose Mourinho, who departed the club and signed a three-year deal to become Real Madrid’s new head coach.
Mourinho, 63, returned to Benfica for a second spell in September and guided the Portuguese side to third place in the Primeira Liga.
The 48-year-old Silva joined Fulham in July 2021, arriving from Everton ahead of what would prove to be a transformative period for the west London club.
He guided Fulham back to the Premier League in his first season at the helm, following the club’s relegation to the Championship the year before his arrival.
The Cottagers finished 11th in the top flight last season, level on 52 points with Chelsea.
Silva’s potential departure would represent a significant moment for Fulham, who have seen considerable stability under his management over the past five years.
Benfica appear determined to move quickly in their search for a new manager, with talks advancing rapidly since Mourinho’s exit was confirmed.
The situation at Craven Cottage remains unresolved, with Fulham yet to publicly address the uncertainty surrounding their head coach’s future.
