Speculation about the future of head coach Nuno Espirito Santo has reemerged as Nottingham Forest turn attention to the 2024/25 season.
Talk about whether a change might be made at the City Ground did the rounds shortly after the final game of last term. And fresh reports have once again cast doubt on the Portuguese’s position.
Over the weekend it was said the Reds could turn to Fulham’s Marco Silva if Nuno departs, amid interest from his homeland and Spain. And now a report in Italy has suggested Forest have been turned down by former AC Milan manager Stefano Pioli.
The rumours came after a cryptic comment from Nuno in his final pre-match press conference of the campaign. Asked whether he hoped to be part of owner Evangelos Marinakis’ vision for the club, he simply said: “I’m here now.”
So what does the future hold? Should Forest stick with Nuno? Our writers have their say on the latest talk surrounding the 50-year-old.
Forest reporter Sarah Clapson
A few eyebrows were raised among the media when Nuno made that slightly ambiguous remark about his future before the clash with Burnley. At the time, it seemed unwise to read too much into it. But since then, there has been a fair bit of speculation about the Reds head coach.
A summer with even the slightest hint of uncertainty is really the last thing Forest need. The transfer window opens this week and the club have plenty of work on their hands trying to balance the books and strengthen the squad.
For some fans, the jury might still be out on whether he is the right choice long-term as performances and results haven’t always been convincing. There is no doubt significant improvement on the pitch will be required, if the Reds are to push on when the new campaign begins.
But Forest showed glimpses of what they are capable of under Nuno last season, and those glimpses came amid what the man himself referred to as “distractions” – not least a points deduction, refereeing controversies and a number of absences. With a full pre-season to work with the players and some key additions brought in, there is no reason why the Portuguese cannot oversee progress in 2024/25.
Content editor James Pallatt
Another day, another claim, and yet more doubt cast over Nuno Espirito Santo’s future at Nottingham Forest. This time, it’s Stefano Pioli, the former AC Milan boss, who has left the San Siro this summer.
Evangelos Marinakis is said to have offered free agent Pioli the top job at the City Ground, but was rejected, despite the Italian understood to be interested in swapping Serie A for the Premier League. Pioli, according to reports in Italy, is holding out for a better offer, having won the Serie A title during five years in Milan.