PL rival “braced” for United to launch hostile raid on Portuguese coach to replace Amorim, fans will be furious – report

Manchester United’s hunt for a replacement for Ruben Amorim has reportedly put a Premier League rival into a state of panic that the Red Devils are set to poach their manager. Contract Stalemate The Sun reveals Fulham are “braced for an approach” from INEOS to hire Marco Silva, with the Portuguese coach yet to respond to a three-and-half-year contract extension offer from the Cottagers. Silva’s current deal expires at the end of the season, making him a free agent from June. Fulham executives proposed the new deal in November in a bid to stave off this possibility – but it has “not gone unnoticed” at Craven Cottage how slow the 48-year-old’s response has been. “Silva is reluctant to talk openly about his future plans and regularly rebuffs the topic, adding he will go public with news when there is some. “But he has said that signing up for a contract extension at Fulham is about more than just wages for him. He wants to see if the club matches his ambitions on and off the pitch,” the report details. Interest from INEOS Silva was previously linked with the hotseat at Old Trafford before his compatriot Amorim took over from Erik ten Hag in November 2024. Fulham are described as “on alert” in anticipating for INEOS to renew this interest following Amorim’s dismissal this morning. United’s head coach launched a public tirade at the club’s executive branch in the wake of the 1-1 draw with Leeds United yesterday – making his position off the pitch untenable after 14 months of abject performances from his players on it. Under-18’s coach Darren Fletcher is set to take over the senior side on an interim basis before a permanent caretaker is appointed until the end of the season. A long-term replacement to Amorim will then be sourced in the summer, when the pool of candidates will grow – especially after the World Cup. Whether Silva would be a target for a caretaker role, considering his contract with Fulham already aligns with this were he to join United, or as a permanent hire remains to be seen. But the fact that Craven Cottage is in a state of panic over the switch to Old Trafford suggests there are some legs to this story – in either direction. Feature image Bryn Lennon via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Darragh Darragh is an editor for The Peoples Person who spent three years learning about the Cold War at the University of Sheffield slowly realising football was by far the most interesting thing to write about. Amad’s first touch should be officially recognised as the eighth wonder of the world.