Fulham take action in attempt to secure Marco Silva's long-term future after heavily rumoured interest from big clubs including Man Utd and Juventus

Silva is thought to have attracted plenty of admirers during his time with Fulham at Craven Cottage. Nottingham Forest have been the latest club believed to be interested in his services after sacking Ange Postecoglou after just 39 days in charge, although it appears former Burnley boss Sean Dyche is now set to take over at the City Ground instead.

Silva joined Fulham in 2021 and guided the team to the Championship title in his first season in charge. The Portuguese has since gone on to consolidate Fulham's position back in the Premier League and set a new club record last season by claiming 54 points in the English top flight. The Cottagers are now eager to hand Silva a new contract but renewal talks between both parties are yet to take place, according to The Athletic. 

Silva spoke about his future at the club after Fulham's 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at the weekend. The Fulham boss admitted he had already spoken to owner Shahid Khan but stopped short of committing his future to the club.

"I've met him already. The main reason was not just the contract, we have many things to talk about. I've felt always part of this football club, from the first day until day. Like players, it's normal they (other clubs) show interest in myself and my staff," he told reporters.

"It's a normal situation. [But] full focus on us and working with the club on the future too. I've been here five years, why not more. [The contract situation] is not gong to be something that disrupts our season. If I have to, I'll speak with you [about it]) every single week as well. I think it's not necessary to speak every week about it. The right time to speak, it will arrive."

Khan has also been quizzed on Silva and had plenty of praise for the Fulham boss. He told talkSPORT: "He's been great. I really like him, not only as a person, [but] as a football manager, head coach. Definitely, I think he's in our long-term plans."

After posting a record points haul last season, Silva will have been hoping to kick on in the current campaign but spoke about his frustrations with the club after a quiet summer transfer window. Fulham signed only back-up goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte before adding wingers Kevin and Samuel Chukwueze on deadline day.

Silva told Sky Sports he had been expecting more: "We don't have time to change, but I don't want to change. Of course, we expected more in the market. It was difficult, waiting until the last day for the deadline signings. But now we are not going to change. I want to see the guys in front of me with the same ambition. And I know that they have it because no one of us is going to accept that we are going to drop our expectations just because the market was difficult for us.

"It's very easy. We spent a lot of time in the middle of the table, around the top 10 last season. Before the two last months of the season, we were in positions to fight for the European places. Some of the other teams around us did very well, but we broke that points tally. That is the big thing. And if we can break it again, for sure we will be in the top half of the table, and then we can fight for something important."

Fulham's defeat to Arsenal last time out made it three defeats on the bounce for the Cottagers. The result leaves Fulham down in 14th place in the table with eight points from their first eight matches of the new Premier League campaign.

Silva's team return to action on Saturday and go in search of a win against Newcastle at St James' Park in the Premier League. Eddie Howe's side head into the match just one point and one place above Fulham in the table.