Marco Silva has been sounded out about the Tottenham job on more than one occasion, with some insiders believing it could be down to a fight between him and frontrunner Thomas Frank to succeed Ange Postecoglou.
Postecoglou was dismissed on Friday despite leading Spurs to a Europa League triumph in May, paying the price for the club’s dreadful Premier League campaign which saw them finish 17th and suffer 22 league defeats.
Fulham are yet to receive a formal approach but Silva has long-term admirers at Spurs and was a candidate to succeed Antonio Conte in 2023.
The i Paper understands that Silva’s representatives have been contacted about the vacancy, with the 47-year-old emerging as an alternative after impressing on a small budget at Fulham.
Sacking Postecoglou was a ruthless decision from Daniel Levy but the signs were ominous. The i Paper reported on Monday that contact had been made with representatives of Brentford boss Frank, who appears to be the firm favourite for the role.
All the indications are that Tottenham are looking to make a rapid appointment and Brentford are braced for an approach.
The i Paper understands that the west London club expect some contact from Spurs but, as of late on Friday night, there has been no communication whatsoever on Frank.
Although the timing of Postecoglou’s sacking raised eyebrows, a little over two weeks after the Europa League final, insiders say Spurs were conscious they needed clarity so they can begin planning for the transfer window and give potential targets a clear answer as to who they would be playing for.
There has been a major overhaul of the board in recent weeks, with Levy’s key ally Donna-Maria Cullen leaving and chief football executive Scott Munn also on his way out. Munn was closely linked to the Postecoglou project, arriving in 2023.
It is a measure of how well-run Brentford are that any approach for Frank would demand significant compensation. He signed a long-term contract in late 2022 that included a buyout clause of around £10m – although Tottenham may try and negotiate on that figure.
Sources suggested to The i Paper on Friday that it was no “done deal” that Frank would leave Brentford, where he benefits from working in an exceptional structure, for Tottenham.
Last summer there had been intimations that he believed he had taken the Bees as far as he could but the understanding is still that he would only leave for the right opportunity.
One Premier League executive at a rival club suggested Frank – as one of the “smartest coaches” in the division – should think long and hard about leaving Brentford for a job which a much shorter shelf life than the seven years he has been at the Gtech Community Stadium.
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Silva has been at Craven Cottage since 2021. They finished 11th in the Premier League last season but a clear playing identity emerged and smart recruitment has helped establish them in the division.
Whether Fulham, who repelled mega money offers for Silva from Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal two years ago, would rebuff Tottenham’s interest is unclear.
He has a year left on a contract signed in 2023 and it previously emerged that there was a £6m release clause for any rival clubs interested in trying to lure him away. The i Paper understands Fulham have been in informal, ongoing discussions with him over an extension but no agreement has been reached yet.
Spurs are in a healthy position when it comes to finding the money for any compensation package, though they have already had to fork out £4m to pay off Postecoglou.
A third possibility – Andoni Iraola – appears more distant. While Iraola has also attracted interest from Spain in recent months, Bournemouth believe he plans to stay with them after encouraging end-of-season meetings and there has been talk of a new contract to reward Iraola for his work last season taking the Cherries to the brink of European qualification.
Whoever arrives risks walking into an unhappy dressing room, with a number of players understood to be “shell-shocked” by Postecoglou’s departure.