Vialli tipped to replace Tigana

Fulham fans were today wondering whether chairman Mohamed Al Fayed would complete his second remarkable managerial U-turn in a fortnight and appoint Gianluca Vialli as the club’s new boss.

Two weeks ago, Jean Tigana discovered the Harrods tycoon had dramatically withdrawn his offer of a two-season contract extension – meaning the last game covered under his three-year deal is the season-ending May 11 date at Charlton.

Fulham immediately ruled out the appointment of another big-name coach to follow Kevin Keegan and Tigana, instead describing the man they were looking for as “the next David Moyes.”

But former Chelsea and Watford boss Vialli has remained the bookmakers’ favourite despite his extravagant style certainly not matching the club’s description – and he watched last night’s 4-0 demolition by Blackburn from the Loftus Road directors’ box.

The Italian, who was at the game with his old assistant, ex-Fulham manager Ray Wilkins, gave little away as he slipped out of the ground. He said: “I’ve got no comment to make.”

Fulham chief executive Bruce Langham, the man overseeing the new manager’s recruitment, amazingly claimed to not even be aware of Vialli’s presence, despite watching the game just a few seats from him.

He told the Press Association: “I didn’t even know he was here.”