Nuno Espirito Santo is reported to be a target for Roma amid claims the Serie A club have already been in contact with the Nottingham Forest manager.
Like Forest, Roma are preparing for their final game of the season hoping to seal qualification for Champions League football.
They currently sit fifth in Serie A and go to mid-table Torino on Sunday, the same day as Forest hosts top-five rivals Chelsea.
But Claudio Ranieri has already bid farewell to Roma fans following the club’s final home game last week, and now the Giallorossi are said to be keen to take Nuno to the Stadio Olimpico as his replacement.
According to Madrid-based sports website Revelo, Nuno is the favoured candidate of the Roma board, who are said to have offered the Portuguese a two-year deal with a mandate to build a title-winning team.
Nuno has worked wonders at Forest, transforming them in little over a season from relegation candidates to Champions League hopefuls.
As such, and with a year left on his current deal, any parting of the ways would seem unlikely, but Roma are said to believe Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has inadvertently pushed Nuno in their direction.
The Greek shipping magnate confronted his manager on the City Ground pitch immediately after Forest’s 2-2 draw with relegated Leicester City on May 11.
It was subsequently revealed that the club owner, concerned for injured striker Taiwo Awoniyi, was questioning Nuno over the approach of the Forest medical staff after the Nigerian player collided with a post in the closing stages of the game.
Nevertheless, Roma believe the incident may have unsettled Nuno enough to help their cause. The Revelo report adds: “The signing of the Portuguese coach will be anything but straightforward as the Roman club will have to negotiate with Forest to arrange his departure.
“The Greek tycoon (Marinakis) holds him in high regard and therefore won't make his departure easy.”
Former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp was initially named as a potential successor to Ranieri, but Revelo report: “The truth is that the Roman club had Nuno as the clear candidate. Now the hardest part remains - securing his release from a Forest side that wants to retain the main architect of their return to Europe.”
Indeed, the draw with Leicester ensured that Forest will return to Europe for the first time in 30 years next season, but which competition they play in will only be decided on the final day.
They need a victory to overhaul fourth-placed Chelsea, but results elsewhere could still see them consigned to the Europa League or even Europa Conference League next season.
Similarly, Roma need to win on Sunday and hope that fourth-placed Juventus drop points to claim a Champions League place.
If the current placings stay the same, they will take their place in the Europa League, but if overhauled by fifth-placed city rivals Lazio they will have to settle for the Europa Conference League.
Nuno is also said to be a target for Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal, who are looking for a new manager after the departure of Jorge Jesus.
According to talkSPORT, Nuno is one of two Premier League managers they have “set their sights on”, alongside Fulham boss Marco Silva.
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