Manager about to be told that his ‘fantastic’ player is not going to be sold to Liverpool

Add as preferred source on Google

Fulham manager Marco Silva will be told that reported Liverpool target Joao Palhinha isn’t for sale this summer.

Palhinha is said to be one of the players Liverpool are considering bringing in to bolster their midfield. But journalist Dean Jones has told GiveMeSport that the 27-year-old’s future will play a big part in Fulham also keeping Silva at Craven Cottage.

“He [Marco Silva] obviously has a bit of a track record for jumping ship from a club, but the information I have at the moment is that Fulham fans should not worry too much about that happening. The interesting thing from here will be what Fulham do to convince him to sign a new deal,” Jones explained.

“I’m hearing that they are ready to back him in the summer transfer window to make sure he remains motivated to stay at Fulham. The club will also give him assurances that he will be able to keep this squad together if offers land for people like Palhinha.

“If West Ham do end up parting ways with Moyes, then this story could crop up again, but Fulham’s aim has to be to get him signed onto a new deal before they get to such a point.”

Palhinha set for Fulham stay

You get the feeling that Palhinha is very much on Liverpool’s ‘B’ list of summer targets. Not to do the Portugal international down, he’s been ‘fantastic’ this season. So says Gary Neville, anyway. But given his age, likely cost and the other options available, he feels like a last resort.

That will do Fulham fans – and Marco Silva – just fine. Palhinha has been a big part of the reason they still have an outside shot at qualifying for Europe.

Move him on this summer and they’d surely bank a massive profit from doing so. For what they’d lose in their team though, it probably wouldn’t be worth it.

As Jones alludes to though, keeping Silva at the club should be Fulham’s main priority. The Portuguese coach has done a fantastic job since his arrival two years ago.

If resisting offers for Palhinha means they keep their manager, then that’s what you can expect them to do.

From a Liverpool point of view, that shouldn’t be problematic. It’s clear that Palhinha is a player who’s caught their eye after a terrific debut season in England. But with the likes of his former Sporting teammate Manuel Ugarte now being strongly linked, we won’t be too upset at missing out on him.