Silva to decide Fulham future next week as 'important' summer looms

As he reflects on what could have been and what could yet be, Marco Silva concludes this summer is a huge one for Fulham.

Their race for European football saw them fall back in the home straight. One win in six games has left them in mid-table limbo.

Silva points to several contributing factors. There have been missed opportunities in front of goal, questionable VAR decisions, key players losing form and, most recently, a needless red card against Bournemouth which changed the tide of a pivotal game.

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The accumulation of those marginal gains may well have seen Fulham in the European places right now. But there is a greater, more fundamental issue - the squad.

"I know that after the promotion was a big summer for Fulham, after that promotion, some difficult decisions had to be made and we did it," Silva told Sky Sports ahead of their final game against Newcastle.

"We took some important decisions, some key players at that moment and we decided to replace them, to let some players who were key for us leave. It was a key summer.

"I'm not saying that the club needs to sign 11 players next season. But definitely next summer is going to be very important for the future of this football club."

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It remains to be seen if the Portuguese manager will be part of that future - the availability of the Benfica job will likely have a big say in that.

Silva has been consistent. He has said for several months that he'll decide on his future after the final game of the season. That moment is nearly upon us.

On Friday, he reaffirmed that message and revealed he will meet the club's hierarchy next week. He also insisted he has still had no contact with Benfica.

Regardless, Silva will, next week, present his end-of-season report to the Fulham board. It will outline where he feels they need to strengthen and to what extent. Will their commitment influence his big decision?

"It's always important, 100 per cent it's always important and the club knows that. They know clearly what things. They agree that some things should be part of the decision. The future of this football club, I really hope and I believe, yes."

Fulham's late-season slump had a sense of déjà vu about it. It was the third successive campaign in which they have spluttered in the spring. It has left fans frustrated and some wondering if the manager is to blame.

"It's something that we are analysing deeply really, because it happened again and it was something that, I can be honest with you, I've been speaking with the players [about] from last January, creating a scenario that cannot happen.

"I knew that we were going to be completely alive and on for something special. To happen again in that way, that frustrates me as it frustrates the fans and the players."

But Silva believes the issue is also rooted in recruitment. Fulham have an average age of 27.6 - it's the joint-highest in the Premier League.

"Fatigue is one of the things, of course, some players we felt, it cannot be lack of energy because all the clubs they arrive in this stage with less energy than they began with, it's clear.

"I like to have maturity, I'm always speaking about the experience, the maturity of this group being a strength. In terms of recruitment, the last two years we have been trying to bring in more fresh legs, to bring more young players. But four years in a row, the average age of our squad - we are always the oldest."

So if he does leave, what does Silva hope his Fulham legacy will be?