Fulham are on high alert, racing against the clock to find their next gaffer after Marco Silva's departure sent shockwaves through Craven Cottage. Vice-chairman Tony Khan has confirmed that the club is zeroing in on just two top contenders, and the stakes couldn't be higher – the right appointment could propel the Cottagers into European contention.
Khan, speaking to FFCtv, revealed that initially they thought Silva would sign on for another stint, but with him now heading to Benfica, the focus has shifted to securing a worthy successor. "There have been loads of names thrown into the hat," Khan admitted, "but it's all going rather well, and we've had some cracking conversations – there are two in particular who've really caught our eye."
Reports last week hinted at Fulham being in advanced talks with 43-year-old Alvaro Arbeloa, a Spaniard with an impressive pedigree as a former Liverpool and West Ham defender. He's also recently managed Real Madrid on an interim basis – talk about a baptism by fire! Another heavyweight name linked to the role is Frank Lampard, England's midfield maestro who guided Coventry City back into the Premier League last season after leading them to Championship title success.
Khan addressed the speculation surrounding the managerial search, saying not all those linked were genuinely in contention. "There have been people where it's said they're the frontrunners or that there've been conversations, but we've never even had a chat with them," he explained. He elaborated on the current stage: "We've got two who've had multiple meetings with the board and who we really like – but we're open to more conversations and talking to more people. We're working on it right now."
Fulham narrowly missed out on European football by just two points last season, finishing 11th in the Premier League. The new manager will inherit a squad that showed grit and determination last term, and their task is clear: build on recent stability and push for bigger league finishes in seasons to come.