Super Eagles stars Iwobi, Bassey set to lose Fulham boss to Benfica

The close relationship between Marco Silva and Fulham’s Super Eagles players could soon come to an abrupt end, with the Portuguese manager now strongly tipped to leave Craven Cottage for Benfica at the end of the season, Afrik-Foot reports.

The expected move would directly affect Super Eagles stars Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey and Samuel Chukwueze, three players who have benefited heavily from Silva’s tactical system and personal trust.

Reports suggest Benfica are close to finalising an agreement with Silva after deciding he was the ideal candidate to begin a new era at the Estádio da Luz. The 48-year-old tactician is expected to replace José Mourinho, who is widely linked with a sensational return to Real Madrid.

Silva has spent five years rebuilding Fulham into one of the Premier League’s most stable sides. After guiding the club out of the Championship in his first full season, he established Fulham as regular mid-table competitors with finishes of 10th, 13th and 11th in recent campaigns.

Sunday’s final Premier League game at home against Newcastle United is now expected to be Silva’s farewell match in charge. Fulham’s hierarchy reportedly tried to stop him from leaving by offering a new long-term contract, but the Portuguese coach is believed to have become frustrated by the club’s transfer strategy and lack of aggressive investment.

Benfica moved quickly once former Manchester United manager Rúben Amorim turned down the opportunity to take the role. Silva’s strong relationship with Benfica director-general Mário Branco also accelerated discussions. The pair previously worked together at Estoril and are seen as trusted allies capable of rebuilding Benfica’s sporting structure.

The Portuguese giants are expected to hand Silva a two-year contract focused on reclaiming the Primeira Liga title from rivals Porto and Sporting while also improving Benfica’s performances in the UEFA Champions League. Because Silva’s Fulham deal expires in June, Benfica have been able to negotiate directly without paying a huge release clause.

Super Eagles’ Fulham trio face difficult uncertainty

Silva’s likely departure could create major uncertainty around Fulham’s Nigerian contingent, particularly because all three players were developed carefully within his tactical structure.

Iwobi has arguably been one of the biggest beneficiaries of Silva’s management. The Nigerian midfielder previously struggled for consistency during difficult periods at Everton, but Silva once again placed enormous trust in him after bringing him to West London.

Rather than using Iwobi as a traditional touchline winger, Silva shifted him into a more central transitional role where his movement, passing and work rate became vital to Fulham’s attacking flow. The 29-year-old responded with four goals, three assists and 37 chances created in 28 Premier League appearances this season. His 86 percent passing accuracy also reflected how important he became in progressing Fulham’s attacks through midfield.

The concern for Iwobi is that a new manager may not view him in the same way. Silva consistently defended the Nigerian and built systems around his versatility. Without that protection, Iwobi risks once again becoming a player shuffled across multiple positions without a clearly defined role.

Bassey’s development has also accelerated rapidly under Silva. The defender arrived from Ajax carrying questions about his consistency and positional discipline, but Silva transformed him into one of Fulham’s most dependable defenders.

The Nigerian centre-back recently celebrated his 100th appearance for the club and has become a crucial part of Fulham’s defensive organisation. His numbers this season have been even more impressive; 142 clearances, 36 tackles with a remarkable 94 percent success rate, and six clean sheets in league action. Silva’s defensive structure allowed Bassey to use his recovery pace aggressively while improving his awareness in one-on-one situations.

A managerial change, however, could force Bassey into another tactical adjustment period. Different defensive systems, especially a back three or possession-heavy build-up structure, may require him to completely adapt his game again.

Chukwueze’s future may be the most uncertain of all. The Nigerian winger joined Fulham on loan from AC Milan after Silva personally contacted him and explained how his direct dribbling style could succeed in the Premier League.

Although Silva publicly challenged Chukwueze to improve his defensive intensity and consistency, he continued to trust him in important matches. The winger’s explosive display against Manchester City earlier in the season was viewed internally as one of his best performances since leaving Villarreal.

Fulham have been negotiating with Milan over a permanent €24 million transfer, but Silva’s likely exit could slow those discussions. Without the manager who strongly backed the deal, Fulham’s board may hesitate before committing such a significant fee.

That uncertainty now leaves Chukwueze facing the possibility of returning to Milan this summer, while Fulham prepare for one of the most important managerial transitions in the club’s recent Premier League history.