Arbeloa, Mourinho, Silva trading places - with agent key to swaps

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Alvaro Arbeloa, Jose Mourinho and Marco Silva look set to be trading places in the space of just over a week Published 41 minutes ago By Nizaar Kinsella Football reporter Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid. Marco Silva to Benfica. Alvaro Arbeloa to Fulham ? It may be one of the more unlikely managerial triangles but it looks set to be completed with Arbeloa nearing a move to west London. But how did it come about? It began, as it so often does, at the top of the chain. Recently re-elected Real Madrid president Florentino Perez decided to bring Jose Mourinho back to the Santiago Bernabeu from Benfica. That left Benfica searching for a manager and interim boss Alvaro Arbeloa without a role. Marco Silva's future had already been in doubt after being shortlisted by Chelsea . As a host of managerial vacancies opened up across Europe, he subsequently emerged as the primary target for the Portuguese club. Benfica secured their man despite Fulham offering a record contract to keep their manager of five years, with super-agent Jorge Mendes brokering deals for both moves. That leaves Arbeloa. Represented by Best of You agent Oscar Ribot, it is understood Mendes recommended the former Liverpool and West Ham defender to the Cottagers, with a move now advanced and expected to go through. It highlights how Mendes, 60, has become a specialist in high-profile managerial appointments. The Portuguese has also been involved in Enzo Maresca's imminent move to Manchester City , while also working with Vitor Pereira, Unai Emery and Nuno Espirito Santo in the Premier League and Championship. This week another Mendes client was in the news. Cesar Peixoto, manager of Gil Vicente in Portugal, is set to take over from Rob Edwards as Wolves manager . Mendes' Gestifute agency has a close relationship with the Molineux club's owners Fosun. More broadly, 10 Premier League clubs will begin next season with new managers, or managers appointed towards the end of last season ( Bournemouth , Chelsea , Crystal Palace , Fulham , Ipswich, Liverpool , Manchester City , Manchester United , Nottingham Forest and Tottenham ) demonstrating a chaotic period in the top flight. Side plot: Arbeloa faces Alonso Arbeloa is best known in England for his impressive two-year spell at Liverpool as a player before returning to Real Madrid for a seven-year stint and ending his career with a single season at West Ham . He earned 56 caps for Spain and was part of arguably the greatest team in their history, which won two European Championships and the World Cup in consecutive tournaments between 2008 and 2012. Alonso and Arbeloa played together for seven consecutive years at club level and even longer with the national team. Mourinho signed the pair from Liverpool in the same summer both Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka joined Real to help them compete with a dominant Barcelona side managed by Pep Guardiola. Such was the closeness of the two that they went on holiday and sp