Leeds United's Premier League relegation rivals 'weigh up' shock manager decision
Fulham are just one point above Leeds United following a 2-0 defeat at Everton last weekend.
Another of Leeds United’s key Premier League rivals could be set for change in the dugout amid reports pressure is growing on Fulham boss Marco Silva.
Fulham are level on 11 points with Leeds and above them on goal difference, following their most recent defeat at Everton last weekend. The Cottagers have lost five of their last six Premier League games, winning only against rock-bottom Wolves who were down to 10 men for almost an hour.
Having finished 11th last season, the early signs suggest a serious drop-off this time round and Fulham are in danger of slipping into relegation trouble, with those currently in the bottom three starting to pick up points. Alongside Leeds, they are only a point above the drop zone going into the November international break.
Silva was widely praised for guiding Fulham to 11th last season but a poor run of results has heaped pressure on the Portuguese coach, with talkSPORT reporting his future at Craven Cottage is now in doubt. Club chiefs are thought to be ‘weighing up’ how to proceed as the final international break of 2025 kicks off.
Alongside a concerning slide down the Premier League table, talkSPORT claim Silva’s reluctance to sign a new contract is weighing on the minds of those in charge at Fulham. The 48-year-old’s current deal expires at the end of this season and despite previous attempts to agree fresh terms, he is currently set to leave the London club as a free agent.
Another of Leeds United’s relegation rivals consider change
Silva held talks with Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal over the summer and has since been vocal in his criticism of Fulham’s summer business. The mid-table finishers were looking up towards Europe but signed just one senior player in promising Brazilian winger Kevin for just short of £35million.
"It's not an ideal scenario. I didn't expect us to be this passive,” he said back in August. “I knew what I wanted and the plan was there but it hasn't happened. Right now we need to reinforce. In some positions we are very short. Did I expect it? Of course not, but the market is the market."
Silva remains a highly regarded coach in the Premier League and was tipped to succeed Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham Hotspur earlier this year, before the North London club eventually went for Thomas Frank. The Portuguese boss was also a prime target for Nottingham Forest, again to succeed Postecoglou, but a reported £8m release clause scuppered their chances before Sean Dyche was appointed.
Should Fulham decide to part ways with Silva, they would become the fourth Premier League club to change manager this season. All of the current bottom three have switched things up in a bid to improve their fortunes, with Forest doing so twice in going from Nuno Espirito Santo to Postecoglou and then Dyche.
Espirito Santo quickly returned to work with West Ham after they sacked Graham Potter. Wolves, meanwhile, are set to appoint Middlesbrough head coach Rob Edwards after sacking Vitor Pereira earlier this month following a 10-game winless start to the campaign.