Nottingham Forest are closing in on a deal for ex-Wolves manager Vitor Pereira after sacking Sean Dyche on Wednesday night.
Nottingham Forest in talks with Vitor Pereira after Sean Dyche dismissal
Forest terminated Dyche's contract after just 114 days following Wednesday evening's goalless draw against basement club Wolves, and ironically, former Molineux boss Pereira is now in pole position to become the club's fourth manager this season.
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Vitor Pereira celebrates after the match
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Vitor Pereira celebrates after the match
The decision was announced in the very early hours of Thursday morning after volatile owner Evangelos Marinakis orchestrated showdown talks with Dyche immediately following the full-time whistle at the City Ground.
The stalemate extended Forest's dismal run to just two victories from their last 10 Premier League fixtures, leaving them languishing in 17th and just three points above the relegation zone with 12 matches remaining.
Wednesday's performance epitomized Dyche's attacking struggles.
Sean Dyche's record at Nottingham Forest
Matches
Wins
Draws
Losses
Points per game
Time in charge
Forest dominated proceedings completely, registering 35 shots without breaching Jose Sa's goal — the most attempts without scoring by any Premier League team in almost a decade.
Only bottom-placed Wolves have scored fewer than Forest's paltry 25 league goals this campaign, despite a £180 million summer spend predominantly focused on attacking reinforcements.
Dyche's post-match comments suggested he anticipated his dismissal.
Sean Dyche record at Nottingham Forest (timeless)
The former Burnley manager acknowledged "the noise has changed significantly" whilst insisting Marinakis had been "absolutely fair" throughout his tenure.
His 114-day spell delivered 10 victories from 25 matches, comfortably superior statistics compared to predecessors Nuno Espírito Santo and Ange Postecoglou combined this season, but Marinakis ran out of patience.
The Greek tycoon has now changed managers three times this season, with the increasingly erractic Marinakis now believed to closing in on a fourth Forest boss of the campaign.
Reports claim Forest opened direct talks with Pereira earlier today, and credible media sources are now stating that a deal is on the verge of being agreed for the Portuguese.
The 57-year-old previously worked under Marinakis at Olympiacos, delivering a league and cup double in 2015.
Despite his torrid start at Wolves this season, claiming zero wins from 10 matches before November's dismissal, Pereira earned enormous credit for rescuing Wolves from relegation last campaign following his December 2024 appointment.
However, it is believed that Pereira wasn't actually Marinakis' first choice.
Marinakis and Forest wanted Silva as 'top target' before Pereira deal
Indeed, according to TEAMtalk and journalist Graeme Bailey, Fulham boss Marco Silva was actually Marinakis' personal 'top target'.
Fulham manager Marco Silva reacts
The reporter also suggests that Silva was one of a 'wide range' of candidates who Marinakis spoke to, but after discovering Forest's chances of landing the Portuguese were 'slim to none', he turned his attention to Pereira.
The 48-year-old, who's been called a 'master' tactician by players who have worked under him, also won a Greek Super League title under Marinakis at Olympiacos.
The major difference between him and Pereira is how Silva has consistently overperformed at Craven Cottage on a shoe-string budget, briefly guiding Fulham to within touching distance of European qualification last season.
Fulham manager Marco Silva arrives at the stadium ahead of the match
His deal also expires at the end of the season, making him very attainable, but it appears Silva wants to see out his final year at Fulham before making a decision on his future.
The ex-Watford and Everton boss has previously been tipped to join Tottenham given his excellent work in west London, and he could well be in the frame there after Thomas Frank was sacked earlier this week.
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