Marco Silva is a long-term target for Nottingham Forest even though any approach for the Fulham manager is unlikely to happen before the end of the season.
Daily Mail Sport revealed last Friday that Forest would weigh up whether to sack Ange Postecoglou during the ongoing international break and following the 2-0 defeat at Newcastle on Sunday, the Australian confirmed he would hold talks with owner Evangelos Marinakis during the coming days.
During his eight years at Forest, Marinakis has always hired managers who were out of work, to avoid lengthy negotiations and wrangles over compensation.
Though Silva is out of contract at Fulham at the end of the season, he has a high release clause in his current deal that puts him out of reach of all but the wealthiest clubs.
It is also understood Silva was sounded out by Portuguese giants Benfica last season but would not have returned to his homeland at that time.
It remains unclear when – of if – Forest will call time on the tenure of Postecoglou, who was appointed only on September 9 after the dismissal of Nuno Espirito Santo. Of his seven games, five ended in defeat, with draws against Burnley and Real Betis.
Nottingham Forest are lining up Marco Silva as a long-term managerial target if they decide to sack Ange Postecoglou
Pressure is building on Postecoglou, who has failed to win any of his seven games in charge of Nottingham Forest
Under an owner like Evangelos Marinakis, the plug on Postecoglou’s time at the club could be pulled at any point
Forest are 17th in the table, a point and a place above the bottom three, and face Chelsea, Porto and Bournemouth in the space of nine days after the break.
Marinakis also owns Olympiacos and was pictured in close proximity to Rafael Benitez at his club’s Champions League fixture at Arsenal on October 1, though it is understood Benitez was at Emirates Stadium in his role as a UEFA technical observer.
Benitez has good relations with the Marinakis family and is keen to return to work in England, where he has not led a team since leaving Everton in January 2022, but it is not known how high the 65-year-old would figure on Forest’s list should Postecoglou depart. His last job was with Spanish club Celta Vigo, which ended in March 2024.
