Marco Silva's five-year tenure at Fulham has ended, leaving the club to navigate a transition under new manager Álvaro Arbeloa. The appointment raises questions about whether Fulham can leverage Arbeloa's connections to Real Madrid for potential recruitment advantages.

Fulham finished 11th last season. Guardian writers predict the club will drop to 15th in the 2026-27 campaign, reflecting concerns about the managerial change and squad development.