The former Watford manager is a rumoured Southampton target.
Marco Silva is ‘poised for a swift return to management with Southampton’, days after being sacked by Watford, according to the Sun.
Current Saints boss Mauricio Pellegrino is under pressure after seeing his side slip into the Premier League’s relegation places at the weekend.
Should the Argentine depart, his successor is likely to inherit much of the money raised from the sale of Virgil van Dijk to Liverpool earlier this month.
But who could Silva use that to target, if he is indeed chosen by Southampton?
Christian Kabasele [Watford]
Kabasele made just seven starts in his first season at Watford, but became a regular under Silva – playing the third most minutes of any Hornets outfielder this campaign. Though the 26-year-old may not be as good as Van Dijk, technically, he shares many of the Dutchman’s other key attributes, such as strength, speed and reading of the game.
Andre Carrillo [Watford, on loan from Benfica]
Silva brought Carrillo to Watford last summer, having previously managed him at Sporting CP. And, according to the Times, the Portuguese even discussed with the winger about following him to Everton, should he have been allowed to take the Toffees job. Southampton aren’t exactly stocked with natural wide options, and signing Carrillo would help to address that.
Islam Slimani [Leicester City]
Another of Silva’s former Sporting players, Slimani scored 15 goals throughout the 40-year-old’s sole season at the Estádio José Alvalade and was later picked up by Leicester City – at a reported cost of £28 million. Southampton’s goal scoring issues are no secret – so much so they have already been credited with interest in the Algerian, who is out of favour at Leicester. Could Silva hold the key to signing him?
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