Fulham vice-chairman Tony Khan revealed his surprise at manager Marco Silva's decision to leave the club, despite having a contract extension ready. Silva departed to manage Benfica in his native Portugal.
'We wanted Marco to stay – we had the contract ready. We were taken aback,' Khan stated in an interview. He acknowledged Silva's significant contributions over five years, including leading the team to promotion and securing consistent Premier League finishes. Khan described his relationship with Silva as a positive friendship, understanding the manager's desire to return home to his family and work for a club of Benfica's stature.
Following Silva's exit, Fulham has appointed former Real Madrid interim boss Alvaro Arbeloa as their new head coach. Khan explained that Arbeloa was selected from several candidates due to his dynamic approach and potential to connect with players. Arbeloa, a former player for Liverpool and West Ham, brings a fresh perspective and extensive football experience from his time coaching at Real Madrid's academy and with their senior team.
Arbeloa's arrival has already facilitated the signings of two young talents from Real Madrid: forward Gonzalo Garcia, for a reported fee of £42.5 million including midfielder Cesar Palacios. Garcia made 30 La Liga appearances last season and has earned a cap for Spain. Palacios is described as a 'magician' who will excite fans.
The club has also seen departures, with top scorers Raul Jimenez and Harry Wilson leaving at the end of their contracts. Khan expressed hope that Wilson would remain but acknowledged the financial realities and wished him well at Leeds United. Issa Diop was also sold to Ipswich Town.
Khan, who has been in charge of Fulham's transfers since 2016, reflected on his tenure, recalling how he took over to avert a potential crisis and rebuild the squad. He highlighted the acquisition and subsequent sale of Aleksandar Mitrovic as a significant success, alongside the return of Ryan Sessegnon.
Fulham remains active in the transfer market, with interest reported in Real Madrid youngster Thiago Pitarch and a near-completion of a £30 million deal for Southampton midfielder Shea Charles. Khan expressed satisfaction with the club's recent achievements, including reaching a League Cup semi-final and achieving a club-record Premier League points total. He aims to build on this success with a strong core of established players and exciting young talent under Arbeloa's guidance, while maintaining the club's stability in the Premier League.