Silva took advice from Mourinho before taking the reins at Watford

MARCO SILVA has revealed he sounded out Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho before agreeing to become the new manager at Watford.

Silva was officially unveiled as Watford boss on Thursday after he decided against staying with relegated Hull City.

Silva has become Watford’s ninth head coach in five years and the 40year-old said he consulted fellow Portuguese Mourinho before agreeing to take charge at Vicarage Road.

‘Yes, we are friends,’ said Silva. ‘We have a very good relationship and of course he is one person who knows very, very well the competition, the Premier League. Before I came to Hull, of course we talked. Even when I needed to take the decision to join Watford, he was one of the persons I talked about my move.

‘He is a good person, a fantastic person.’

Unlike Mourinho, Silva is not setting his sights too high right now. ‘I have my targets and I need to prove day by day what is my competence as a coach and we will see.’ EVERTON are weighing up a £9million move for West Ham’s Winston Reid.

Manager Ronald Koeman wants cover for the injured Ramiro Funes Mori and is considering a bid for the 29-year-old New Zealand international defender, who has just returned to training following a shin injury.

Reid went with the West Ham squad to Austria earlier this month and stepped up his rehab work following surgery after they travelled to Germany. He hopes to be fully fit inside two weeks.

Reid extended his contract until 2021 but West Ham may be willing to listen to offers as they look to redress their summer spending.