Former Fulham head coach Marco Silva has agreed a two-year contract to take over from the departing Jose Mourinho at Benfica, and the Cottagers are ramping up their search for a replacement.

Mourinho will return to the Real Madrid for a second time having won La Liga and the Copa del Rey between 2010 and 2013, and reports this week have suggested something of a manager merry-go-round.

McKenna no longer an option to become Fulham manager

Kieran McKenna has announced he is stepping down as Ipswich boss to take a break from football just weeks after guiding the club back to the Premier League.

McKenna, 40, has been strongly linked with the vacant Fulham job in recent days, but the Northern Irishman said he was leaving the Tractor Boys in order to take a break from football and spend time with his family.

In a statement on Ipswich’s website, McKenna said: “It is with a mixture of gratitude, pride, sadness and contentment that I have decided to step down from the honour of managing this historic football club.

“When you have the connection that we have built at this club there is never a good time to say goodbye.

“However, having achieved a second promotion to the Premier League last season, with another memorable final day in our stadium, and after reflection over the last couple of weeks, I feel this is the right time for me to step aside."

“After giving so much to the role over the previous five seasons, I now look forward to taking a break from management and dedicating some time to my family, who have been with me every step of my career so far.”

Fulham manager latest: Arbeloa deal "very close"

Former Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa is now in talks with Fulham to succeed Silva and Fabrizio Romano has shared the latest on their pursuit of the 43 year-old in his latest YouTube video.

Romano revealed that the former Liverpool and Madrid full-back wants to return to work immediately instead of taking a break after his departure from the Spanish capital.

Arbeloa took over first-team duties at Madrid when Xabi Alonso was sacked in January after only six months in charge, but was unable to change their fortunes, falling short in the title race against Barcelona and being knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich.