Alvaro Arbeloa on the cusp of joining Fulham as talks advance

Former Real Madrid boss Alvaro Arbeloa looks set to become the new Fulham manager ahead of next season.

Fulham are in advanced talks with former Real Madrid head coach Alvaro Arbeloa to become their new manager, according to an update by reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.

Meanwhile, a report from the BBC has confirmed that the Cottagers are negotiating with the former Real Madrid boss to replace Marco Silva, who has decided to leave the Premier League club. The Portuguese manager is set to take charge of Benfica following Jose Mourinho’s move to Los Blancos.

During his five-year stint at Craven Cottage, Silva helped Fulham secure promotion to the top flight and establish themselves as a mid-table club. The Cottagers have been defensively solid and tactically flexible under his management. However, the Portuguese tactician has opted to end his time at the club, with his contract running out. The 48-year-old has penned a two-year deal at Benfica, beginning next month.

Fulham confident about having Arbeloa on their bench next season

Fulham recently identified Arbeloa as their leading candidate for the vacancy. The West Londoners have been searching for a replacement for some time, and the 43-year-old has emerged as the preferred option. They are in advanced talks with the former Real Madrid boss, who was recently relieved of his duties after failing to win a trophy during his interim spell.

Arbeloa took charge of Real Madrid mid-way through last season on an interim basis following the sacking of new Chelsea head coach Xabi Alonso. While Real Madrid have decided to part ways with him, Arbeloa did not fare poorly, given it was his first-ever managerial job at the highest level. He showed considerable promise as a manager, with a strong track record at the youth level.

Talks are ongoing, and personal terms remain unconfirmed, though the Cottagers are optimistic about reaching an agreement with the Spanish tactician. Arbeloa’s managerial style emphasises tactical discipline and strong man management. His teams tend to press high and prioritise vertical passes. Given his approach, he could build on the defensive and tactical foundations that Silva established at Craven Cottage.