Marco Silva is set to leave Fulham as the club reach an agreement with an announcement within days

A bombshell has dropped on Marco Silva and his future at Fulham, with the Portuguese agreeing to join a new club.

Five years, one promotion, and four seasons of uninterrupted Premier League football.

Whatever happens on the final day, Silva’s time at Craven Cottage will be remembered as one of the most successful managerial spells in Fulham’s modern history – and now, it seems, it is over.

Silva arrived in the summer of 2021 and inherited a club that had spent the previous decade bouncing between divisions with no clear identity or direction.

He quickly changed that.

The championship title came at the first attempt in 2022, and since then Fulham have never been threatened with relegation.

Four consecutive seasons of mid-table stability in the Premier League may not set the pace, but it does represent a tight fit on a shoestring budget compared to their big-spending rivals.

His work did not go unnoticed.

Chelsea included Silva in their shortlist before appointing Xabi Alonso earlier this month.

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is reportedly very fond of it.

And in Portugal, where Silva’s reputation has grown significantly after his success in England, big clubs have been watching.

It was Benfica who won the race.

Marco Silva has agreed a deal to join Benfica from Fulham

According to Swiss Sky Sports journalist Sacha Tavolieri, the Portuguese giants have reached an agreement with Silva, who has made it clear that returning to his country is the most important thing for him.

An official announcement is now expected in the coming days.

A vacancy at the Estadio da Luz opened up when José Mourinho confirmed his departure to join Real Madrid.

Negotiations between Benfica and Silva moved quickly, facilitated by agent Jorge Mendes and his deep connection with the club.

Reports in Portugal indicate that Silva will sign a two-year contract with an option for a third season, and is willing to accept a significant pay cut on his current annual salary at Fulham in order to do so.

Benfica can offer what Craven Cottage cannot – European football, a real challenge for the title, and the emotional pull of managing one of the two or three biggest clubs in their home country.

Fulham didn’t let him go without a fight.

The club are reported to have made an effort to ensure that Silva stays, but Benfica are now said to be bidding for the former Everton manager.

The challenge now facing Fulham is huge.

A new manager must be appointed soon, the season is overdue and the transfer window is approaching.

The squad assembled by Silva is competitive but aging in key areas, and whoever replaces him will have to maintain the quality he has set while refreshing the squad.