Fulham are “very close” to a deal with former Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa
Former Fulham head coach Marco Silva has agreed a two-year contract to take over from Benfica’s Jose Mourinho, while the Cottagers are also looking for a replacement.
Mourinho will return to Real Madrid for a second time having won La Liga and the Copa del Rey between 2010 and 2013, and reports this week have suggested something about the manager.
McKenna is no longer an option for Fulham manager
Kieran McKenna has announced he is stepping down as Ipswich manager to take a break from football just weeks after guiding the club back to the Premier League.
McKenna, 40, has been heavily linked with the vacant Fulham job in recent days, but the Northern Irishman has said he is leaving the Bulldozer Boys to take a break from football and spend time with his family.
In a statement released on the Ipswich website, McKenna said: “It is with a mixture of gratitude, pride, sadness and satisfaction that I have decided to step down from the honor of managing this historic football club.
“When you have the connections we have built at this club, there is no good time to say goodbye.
“However, having secured our second promotion to the Premier League last season, and another memorable final day at our stadium, and after some serious thought over the last few weeks, I feel this is the right time for me to step down.”
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“After giving so much to the role over the last five seasons, I am now looking forward to taking a break from management and devoting some time to my family, who have been with me at every step of my career so far.
Fulham boss latest: Arbeloa deal “very close”
Former Real Madrid manager Alvaro Arbeloa is now in talks with Fulham to replace Silva and Fabrizio Romano has shared the latest on their pursuit of the 43-year-old in his latest YouTube video.
Romano revealed that the Liverpool and Madrid defender wants to return to work immediately instead of taking a break after his move from the Spanish capital.
Arbeloa took over from the first team at Madrid when Xabi Alonso was sacked in January after just six months in charge, but he was unable to turn his fortunes around, failing in the title race against Barcelona and being knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich.
“Alvaro Arbeloa is in advanced talks to become the new coach at Fulham.
“Fulham owner Tony Khan was looking for different candidates for the new coach.
“That’s how Mourinho went to Real Madrid, Marco Silva went to Benfica, and now Alvaro Arbeloa is likely to be the new coach of Fulham.
“The negotiations have progressed a lot, it is very close, Arbeloa has opened the doors to this, Arbeloa wants to restart immediately.
“Arbeloa is looking forward to this and is delighted to be chosen as Fulham manager.”
Nottingham Forest and Fulham will now go head-to-head in the race for the £25m star
Premier League clubs are keen to sign a “big” player.
