Nottingham Forest have identified Fulham manager Marco Silva as a leading long-term target, though any approach for the Portuguese coach is not expected to take place before the end of the season.
Club owner Evangelos Marinakis remains cautious about making another managerial change mid-campaign, despite growing pressure on Ange Postecoglou following a dismal run of results.
Reports last week revealed that Forest’s hierarchy were considering Postecoglou’s position during the international break after Sunday’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle.
The Australian, who only took charge on September 9, confirmed that he would be holding discussions with Marinakis “in the coming days” to review the team’s direction following their 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on Sunday.
Postecoglou has endured a difficult start, winning none of his first seven matches, five of which ended in defeat, with draws against Burnley and Real Betis offering little consolation.
According to the Daily Mail, a departure could soon be on the cards as a result.
Under Marinakis, Forest have typically turned to managers out of work to avoid lengthy negotiations and costly compensation fees.
His approach has remained consistent since taking charge of the club eight years ago.
Ange Postecoglou is yet to win a match since taking over at Nottingham Forest
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Silva, though, presents a more complicated prospect.
While he is out of contract at Fulham at the end of the season, his current deal includes a substantial release clause that only the wealthiest clubs could afford.
The 47-year-old has impressed at Craven Cottage, leading Fulham back to the Premier League and establishing them as a stable mid-table side.
His reputation for tactical organisation and developing players makes him an attractive option for Forest, who are desperate to stabilise their form and secure top-flight survival.
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Marco Silva has worked wonders at Fulham
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It has been suggested that Forest’s interest is genuine but that any move would wait until the summer, when Silva’s contractual situation becomes less restrictive.
It is also claimed that Silva turned down the chance to return to Portugal when Benfica made enquiries last season, indicating his preference to continue working in England for the time being.
However, with Fulham failing to spend big back in the summer transfer window, the prospect of a new challenge at the City Ground may eventually prove appealing.
Postecoglou, meanwhile, finds himself in an increasingly precarious position.
Forest sit 17th in the Premier League, one point and one place above the relegation zone, with a daunting run of fixtures ahead against Chelsea, Porto and Bournemouth in the space of nine days after the international break.
Supporters’ patience has begun to fray, with sections of the away end at St James’ Park chanting for his dismissal.
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Despite the criticism, Postecoglou has insisted he will not abandon his principles, saying, “Nothing surprises me anymore in football. The only thing that changes perception is results.”
Adding further intrigue to the managerial situation, Rafael Benítez has again been linked to Marinakis’s network after being spotted near the Greek businessman during Olympiacos’s Champions League fixture at Arsenal on October 1.
Although Benítez was there in his capacity as a UEFA technical observer, his relationship with the Marinakis family is well known.
The former Liverpool and Newcastle manager is thought to be keen on a return to English football following his departure from Celta Vigo earlier this year.
Whether Forest ultimately make a change now or at the season’s end, Marinakis faces another defining decision. Silva remains the preferred long-term candidate, but Postecoglou’s immediate future will depend on results over the coming weeks.
For a club perched perilously close to the drop zone, stability is as vital as ambition — and Nottingham Forest may soon be forced to decide which matters more.