Marco Silva is a leading candidate for the Al-Hilal vacancy with Fulham braced for an offer from the Saudi club.
The Portuguese manager has been in charge of the Cottagers since 2021, guiding them back to the Premier League from the Championship in his first season in charge.
Under Silva, Fulham have challenged for European places and currently sit 11th in the top-flight.
talkSPORT understands the 47-year-old, who is contracted to Craven Cottage until 2026, is stalling on a new deal.
Silva has been made a non-binding offer to join Saudi giants Al Hilal – who are Asia’s most decorated football club and will compete in the Club World Cup this summer.
With a market value of £206million, Hilal are Saudi Arabia’s most valuable club and have financial backing from the nation’s Public Investment Fund.
However, Fulham are yet to be approached by Hilal. The Saudi club also have Simone Inzaghi and Nuno Espirito Santo as options for the vacancy left by Jorge Jesus.
It is believed Hilal are waiting on an answer from Inzaghi, who last night led Inter the Champions League final.
Silva is understood to be open to the role, having previously turned down Saudi offers, with both he and Fulham now waiting for Hilal to make the next move.
They are currently second in the Saudi Pro League and have signed ex-Premier League stars Kalidou Koulibaly, Ruben Neves, Joao Cancelo and Aleksandar Mitrovic in recent years.
Silva could be reunited with former Fulham striker Mitrovic, who has scored 42 goals in 46 league matches since joining the Saudi Pro League in a £50million deal in 2023.
Reacting to the news on talkSPORT’s White and Jordan Show, Fulham legend Danny Murphy said: “I think he’s done an absolutely brilliant job and improved players.
“They haven’t particularly gone huge in the transfer market. He’s done really, really well.”
When asked if Silva should stay in England and push for a top-four job, Murphy replied: “A difficult one. Top six or seven, maybe, like Tottenham. Maybe.
“I think he might have taken Fulham as far as he can go.”
Silva has been linked with the Tottenham job amid questions over the future of Ange Postecoglou.
Speaking last month, Fulham owner Tony Khan said he wants Silva to stay at the club ‘forever’.
“Marco is a huge, huge asset to Fulham Football Club,” Khan said.
“He is such an amazing person and he is so important to the football club.
“Marco has a great relationship with my father and myself, and we really love Marco and we want him to stay at Fulham Football Club forever.
“He is a huge part of what we have got going for the future and the present and he is a great man.”
Fulham are next in action when they host Everton in the Premier League on Saturday.
