Nottingham Forest could target Fulham boss Marco Silva if their appointment of Sean Dyche does not work out as expected, GIVEMESPORT senior correspondent Ben Jacobs has exclusively revealed on the Market Madness podcast.
The City Ground outfit confirmed Dyche’s appointment earlier this week on a deal running until the summer of 2027, with the 54-year-old becoming their third different manager this season.
Forest parted ways with Ange Postecoglou following their 3-0 home loss to Chelsea on Saturday and looked at several potential successors before turning to Dyche, who has not had a managerial job since being sacked by Everton in January.
Jacobs claims the Tricky Trees also considered appointing Silva but hit two stumbling blocks, including a £15m release clause inserted in his contract that runs until the end of the season.
Fulham Could Turn to Marco Silva
Fulham boss Marco Silva watching on from the dugout
Jacobs, speaking on Market Madness, revealed that Silva was an option for Nottingham Forest before they appointed Dyche and could be reconsidered as a target if the City Ground side opt for another new manager after the season:
“Regarding Marco Silva, he was an option for Nottingham Forest before hiring Sean Dyche.
“So, as we said earlier in the show, if it doesn't work out with Dyche, flash forward to next summer, Marco Silva will likely be there.
“Two stumbling blocks with pricing him out of Fulham. The first is that Silva doesn't really want to leave anywhere mid-season. So you may notice a pattern here.
“The second is that there's a £15million release clause, or thereabouts, and that's too expensive for a lot of the sides that may consider paying it, that might be treading quite a fine PSR line.”
Silva, who took charge at Craven Cottage in the summer of 2021, led Fulham to the Championship title in his first season in charge and has since overseen three consecutive mid-table Premier League finishes.
Under the 'genius' Portuguese tactician, Fulham have finished 10th, 13th and 11th in the top flight and set a new club record in the Premier League last season by winning 54 points.
This term, the Cottagers are 15th after eight games, three places above Forest, who have won just once in their opening eight matches.
Dyche will take charge of his first game at the City Ground on Thursday – a Europa League clash against Porto – before visiting Bournemouth in the Premier League on Sunday.