Online Reporter
BRENDAN RODGERS is Nottingham Forest’s top target when they make their move for a new boss.
Straight-talking Marinakis has had his sights on Rodgers for months. And the time may be right to strike soon to bring the former Liverpool and Leicester manager back to England.
Rodgers is in the final year of his Bhoys deal and he has walked out on them before. If he left again the compensation fee would not be an issue.
Forest are going into a big campaign at home and in Europe but that has not stopped a rift between owner and coach developing.
Marinakis is expected to pull the plug next week — when Celtic have a huge Champions League qualifier in Kazakhstan with Kairat.
If Celtic miss out and fail to land players in the window it makes Rodgers’ exit much easier.
Ange Postecoglou, 59, has also been linked with Forest and is clear to take a job after leaving Tottenham in the summer.
But he may yet replace Rodgers at Celtic.
Jose Mourinho, 62, in charge at Fenerbahce, has been linked but would be expensive and comes with his own fiery reputation.
Nuno, 51, has publicly moaned about a lack of signings and admitted there is “no smoke without fire” regarding claims he could be sacked.
The Celtic chief, 52, is hugely admired by owner Evangelos Marinakis, whose relationship with manager Nuno Espirito Santo has broken down.
However, Santo dismissed speculation that he is considering walking away from the Premier League club, calling the rumours “absurd” after his side’s 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Nuno added fuel to exit rumours on Friday when he revealed his relationship with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis had deteriorated, saying it was no longer built on trust.
Last season, Forest downplayed a heated conversation between the two after Marinakis came onto the pitch to speak with the Portuguese at the end of a match.
‘‘Absolute nonsense. Absurd. This narrative, it’s absurd,’’ Nuno told reporters when asked if he could leave the club.
When asked whether he was confident he would remain at Forest by the end of the close-season transfer window, he said: ‘‘I cannot answer that question, but what I know is that I am working and trying to do my job the best I can.
‘‘Of course, the situation has to be solved and we are responsible people. We can have a good conversation to create a good platform for what is more important, the team.
‘‘We’re going to have it. We must. We need to have this conversation and we will have it. This is what I think is more important than anything.’’
Forest are fourth in the league after taking four points from their opening two matches. They next face West Ham United.
