Marco Silva says this summer will be among the most significant in Fulham's recent history — and the question of whether he will be the man to oversee it remains firmly unresolved.

The Portuguese head coach, whose contract expires at the end of the current season, confirmed he will sit down with the club's hierarchy next week to deliver his end-of-season assessment. He has also reiterated that he has had no contact with Benfica, despite persistent speculation linking him with the vacancy left by Jose Mourinho at the Lisbon club.

A season that fell away in the final stretch

Fulham's bid for European football collapsed in the home straight. One win in six games left them stranded in mid-table, and Silva is acutely aware of how damaging the late-season collapse has been — both in terms of points and perception.

He pointed to a catalogue of contributing factors: missed chances in front of goal, contentious VAR calls, key players losing form, and a red card against Bournemouth that he described as needless and decisive in shifting the momentum of a pivotal fixture.

It is the third consecutive campaign in which Fulham have faded in the spring, and Silva acknowledged the pattern with uncommon candour.