Newcastle United latest news: One Newcastle United star was reportedly wanted by Sean Dyche in the January transfer window.
Dyche’s last match as Forest manager was their goalless draw with Wolves on Wednesday night. That draw saw them fail to increase the gap between themselves and West Ham who, just 24 hours previous, had drawn 1-1 with Manchester United at the London Stadium.
Forest are now searching for their fourth manager of the season following the departures of Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou earlier this season. Dyche’s departure was confirmed in a very brief statement released by Forest in the early hours of Thursday morning.
That read: ‘Nottingham Forest Football Club can confirm that Sean Dyche has been relieved of his duties as head coach. We would like to thank Sean and his staff for their efforts during their time at the Club and we wish them the best of luck for the future. We will be making no further comment at this time.’
Forest have a free weekend after being knocked out of the FA Cup by Wrexham in the Third Round, with Dyche’s replacement to kick-off their reign as Forest boss with a Europa League clash against Fenerbahce on Thursday night.
Sean Dyche ‘wanted’ to sign Newcastle United star
In the wake of Dyche’s departure from Forest, a number of rundowns of his brief time in charge at the City Ground have detailed some reasons why he was unable to be a success at the club. The Mail Online report that one of the reasons for Dyche’s departure was his dissatisfaction with transfer business conducted by Forest during the most recent transfer window.
Forest signed Luca Netz from Borussia Moenchengladbach, Lorenzo Lucca from Napoli and Manchester City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega to bolster Dyche’s options. However, the former Burnley and Everton man reportedly wanted to strengthen his options with Premier League proven talent.
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Dwight McNeil, who was denied a deadline day move to Crystal Palace, was reportedly among the players that Dyche wanted to sign. Also on the list, according to reports, was Newcastle United goalkeeper Nick Pope.
Dyche worked closely with Pope during their time at Turf Moor together, with Pope leaving Burnley just months after Dyche’s departure as manager back in 2022. Whilst the capture of Ortega bolstered his goalkeeping options, it seems that Pope was Dyche’s top pick to do that instead of the former Manchester City man.
Pope, meanwhile, is Newcastle United’s current number one and whilst the club will likely look for a long-term replacement for him when the summer window opens, it seems very unlikely that had Forest firmed up their reported interest into a bid for the Magpies man that Newcastle United would have even considered sanctioning a departure, never mind going through with it mid-season.
Brighton duo Lewis Dunk and Jack Hinshelwood were also on Dyche’s shortlist during the winter window - according to reports. Forest reportedly had a bid for Dunk, who has spent well over a decade at the Amex Stadium, accepted by the Seagulls but were unable to convince the defender to switch the south coast for the midlands.
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