Nottingham Forest are eyeing a move for a Lyon star who's taken the season by storm, and a transfer would thwart a possible Crystal Palace double deal.
Forest are entering one of the most turbulent periods in their recent history.
Wolverhampton Wanderers manager Vitor Pereira
Four managers into a single Premier League season, the City Ground faithful have been put through the emotional wringer — and yet somehow, the club are still standing.
Vitor Pereira is the latest man tasked with keeping Forest in the top flight, appointed on February 15t after Sean Dyche was dismissed following a dismal 0-0 home draw against bottom-of-the-table Wolves.
Dyche barely lasted four months. His predecessor, Ange Postecoglou, didn't last much longer.
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Vitor Pereira's side are contending with interest in him.
Owner Evangelos Marinakis has shown throughout this campaign that he has no appetite for patience when results dry up, but Pereira did himself a real service by demolishing Fenerbahçe 3-0 on Thursday.
Reports suggest that Pereira will be sacked by Forest if they fail to stay up, so their Europa League triumph was a dream start for the under-pressure new manager.
It was also a far cry from the pragmatic, defensive grind that characterised Dyche's tenure.
Forest still sit just three points above the relegation zone in the Premier League, with Liverpool visiting the City Ground this Sunday. There is plenty of work still to do.
Liverpool head coach Arne Slot-1
Yet, even amid the chaos of a season that has lurched from crisis to crisis, there are signs that planning is beginning for what comes next — and the recruitment department has apparently been busy.
Nottingham Forest eye Lyon star Pavel Sulc in headache for Crystal Palace
According to TEAMtalk's Graeme Bailey, Forest are among a cluster of Premier League clubs to have recently checked on Czech playmaker Pavel Sulc, the 25-year-old whose impact at Lyon has been nothing short of spectacular this season.
pavel-sulc
Sulc arrived from Viktoria Plzen and has been one of Ligue 1's standout performers, racking up 13 goals and six assists.
His versatility across the front line has made him a valuable asset for Pierre Sage's side, who are currently riding a 13-match unbeaten run across all competitions and pressing hard in a surprise title race.
Lens sit top of the table, a point ahead of PSG, with Lyon lurking just behind in third.
Alongside former Man United midfielder Tyler Morton, Sulc has been a driving force in Lyon's resurgence — and whether owner John Textor can hold this group together beyond the summer is far from certain.
tyler-morton-lyon
Bailey reports that Forest are eyeing a move for Sulc, and by doing so, they may well thwart a potential double swoop at Crystal Palace.
The Eagles are said to be targeting Sulc and Morton, and the possibility of Palace negotiating a double deal with Textor for both players is apparently a real one.
Sulc, who's been called 'amazing' by Jacek Kulig and likened to former Tottenham hero Christian Eriksen, is an interesting target for the Tricky Trees.
Forest face significant competition, though.
Leeds United had been tracking Sulc since last summer and have maintained their interest. Aston Villa, Brentford, Brighton, Everton, Fulham and Bournemouth have all sent scouts in recent weeks as well.
For Forest, the message is clear — they want to be ready to move when the window opens.
Whether Pereira's new era keeps them in the Premier League to do business in it remains the overriding question.
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