Fulham ready to bring Javier Pereira in to replace Saudi-bound Marco Silva
- Marco Silva has refused to sign a new contract at Fulham and has just a year left on current terms
- Al Ahli, who have signed Roberto Firmino and Edouard Mendy, have offered Silva a two-year contract worth £40m
- Former assistant manager Javier Pereira set to take over from Silva at Craven Cottage
Fulham are planning to bring Javier Pereira back to Craven Cottage to replace manager Marco Silva, who is ready to accept a deal to move to the Saudi Pro League, 90min understands.
Silva has previously turned down an approach from Saudi earlier this summer but PIF-owned Al Ahli have returned having upped their offer to a two-year deal worth £40m.
Al Ahli have already enjoyed a busy and successful summer with the marquee signings of Roberto Firmino and Edouard Mendy, and they are set to follow those deals up with the capture of Riyad Mahrez from Manchester City.
Silva is currently en route to America as Fulham prepare to get their pre-season underway, but it's looking increasingly likely that he won't be in charge of any of their games. The former Watford, Hull and Everton boss has just a year left on his current deal and has thus far rejected the Cottagers' offers to extend his stay.
Fulham, for their part, have been anticipating a renewed bid from Saudi and the club's hierarchy have been working on who they could bring in to replace Silva. 90min understands the man at the top of their list is Javi Pereira.
READ MORE TRANSFER NEWS FROM 90MIN'S TALKING TRANSFERS TEAM
feed
The 57-year-old is currently in charge of Chinese outfit Shanghai Port - who are six points clear at the top of the table - but he is set to be handed the chance to return to Fulham, where he previously spent four years across two separate spells.
Pereira was assistant to Slavisa Jokanovic for three seasons up to 2018 and then returned in 2020 as assistant director of football operations - working closely with current Fulham chief Tony Khan - before leaving to pursue a career as a manager.
Fulham are now negotiating the terms of Silva's likely departure to Al Ahli, while working on a deal for Pereira to return.
LISTEN NOW TO 90MIN'S TALKING TRANSFERS PODCAST
On this week's edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders is joined by Toby Cudworth and Graeme Bailey to discuss Brighton rejecting Chelsea's bid for Moises Caicedo, Man City closing in on Josko Gvardiol, Harry Maguire's uncertain Man Utd future and more!
If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!