Saudi Arabian side offer staggering £40m to Premier League manager in statement first move
Saudi Arabia want to bring in a first manager from the Premier League
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Saudi Arabian side Al-Ahli have offered Fulham boss Marco Silva a two-year deal worth £40million in order to leave the club.
The Portuguese worked wonders with the Cottagers last season, helping them finish 10th in the Premier League table.
And Silva is now wanted in the Middle East having enhanced his managerial reputation.
The 46-year-old is currently in the US as part of Fulham's pre-season tour, with the start of the new Premier League campaign edging closer.
Fulham boss Marco Silva is wanted out in SaudI aRABIA
PA
Yet there's now a chance he could leave, according to Sky Sports.
Silva's agents are in London holding talks with Saudi officials, though Fulham would love to keep their boss for at least one more season.
The former Everton manager has one year left on his current contract.
And if Al-Ahli want to bring Silva to the Middle East, and away from England, they'll have to pay his £6m release clause.
Fulham were stuck in a rut when they hired Silva back in 2021.
But Silva guided them to promotion in his first season in charge, with the club winning the Championship ahead of Bournemouth.
The Saudi Pro League are making waves this summer as they look to poach some of the biggest names in football.
Cristiano Ronaldo moved to Al-Nassr at the tail end of last year having left Manchester United by mutual consent.
Since then, many other players have opted to follow suit.
Karim Benzema and N'Golo Kante have both joined Al-Ittihad from Real Madrid and Chelsea respectively.
The pair have been joined by 24-year-old winger Jota, who agreed a three-year contract to leave Celtic.
Al-Ahli have recruited Edouard Mendy and Roberto Firmino, who have joined on free transfers from Chelsea and Liverpool.
Al-Nassr, not content with bringing in Ronaldo, have added Seko Fofana and Marcelo Brozovic to their squad.
And Al Hilal have put themselves in the spotlight with deals for the likes of Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, Ruben Neves and Kalidou Koulibaly.
If Silva does leave Fulham, he'd become the first Premier League boss to ditch England for Saudi.
And what ultimately happens remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Fulham star Willian recently hailed Silva for helping him revive his career.
"When I quit Corinthians in August, I had no idea where I’d head next – I didn’t have any concrete offer," he said.
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The Saudi Pro League have brought in names such as N'Golo Kante and Roberto Firmino
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"I just left and returned to London, hoping that something would come up eventually. It was then that I found out Marco Silva had been speaking to my agent."
He added: "I left the meeting impressed by his character. He has that human touch that’s key in football these days.
"He’s a great manager with the potential to become one of the world’s best."
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