Ange Postecoglou wants Premier League return as Nottingham Forest consider sacking Nuno Espirito Santo amid Edu rift

Ange Postecoglou wants Premier League return as Nottingham Forest consider sacking Nuno Espirito Santo amid Edu rift

Ange Postecoglou is keen to return to Premier League management, talkSPORT understands.

Postecoglou is high on Nottingham Forest's wanted list if they decide to sack Nuno Espirito Santo following his public fallout with owner Evangelos Marinakis.

3 Postecoglou guided Tottenham to Europa League glory but lost his job after a disastrous Premier League campaign Credit: Getty

It is understood Marinakis has already held direct conversations with former Tottenham boss Postecoglou, with whom he also enjoys a personal relationship.

The pair were pictured together earlier this summer in Greece at an awards ceremony.

Postecoglou was sacked by Tottenham after the club finished 17th in the Premier League last season, despite the Australian boss guiding Spurs to their first major trophy in 17 years with Europa League glory.

talkSPORT understands that Espirito Santo’s position remains unsafe, even though the current expectation is he takes charge of Sunday’s Premier League game against Crystal Palace.

In a dramatic press conference on Friday, Nuno revealed a deteriorating relationship with Marinakis.

The pair are understood to speak less than last season following the arrival of former Arsenal sporting director Edu.

There is also a rift between Nuno and Edu, who are not fully aligned on the club’s recruitment strategy or playing style.

talkSPORT has learned Nuno wanted to sign Fulham’s Adama Traore earlier this summer and believes Edu blocked the move, although club sources insist the player himself was the issue in any potential deal falling through.

Nottingham Forest originally dismissed suggestions Nuno could be sacked, but Friday’s press conference angered Marinakis resulting in emergency meetings by club leadership.

There remains a strong chance Nuno departs after the weekend.

3 Greek businessman and Forest owner Marinakis appears to have fallen out with Espirito Santo

Marinakis is also a long-term admirer of former Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp, who is believed to be happy in his new position as head of global soccer at Red Bull.

Edu is working closely with Marinakis to develop a consistent style and recruitment model across Forest, Olympiacos and Portuguese side Rio Avenue, with a further club expected to be added in Brazil.

This requires a more collaborative recruitment model, and there are doubts whether Espirito Santo is the right fit within this new strategy.

Postecoglou was sacked by Spurs last season following their Europa League Final win over Manchester United and has rejected interest from Saudi Arabian clubs this summer.

Those close to Postecoglou insist there has been no formal approach, but talkSPORT has learned Marinakis has directly and informally sounded him out over a potential vacancy.

What did Nuno say on Friday?

There were no doubts over the Nottingham Forest manager's future until a rapidly-accelerating situation developed on Friday.

3 Espirito Santo boasts a strong record at Forest

Forest sealed European football after an excellent 2024/25 campaign and won their opening match of the new season 3-1 against Brentford.

But after surprise reports of tension between Nuno and the Forest hierarchy, the Portuguese boss confirmed the rift in a bombshell press conference.

"I always had a very good relationship with the owner, last season we were very close and spoke on a daily basis," he said.

"This season it is not so well [between us] but I always believe that dialogue is important because my concern is the squad and the season we have ahead of us.

"Our relationship has changed and we are not as close."When pressed to give his feelings on the situation, Espirito Santo added: "No, it is not good. I think everybody at the club should be together but this not the reality."

"I don't know exactly but I'm being honest with you, it is not the same.

"The reason behind it I do not know. What I said last week or two weeks ago was my concern and why I was worried about where we were going [as a club].

'Relationship has changed' - Nuno Espirito Santos gives shock Forest press conference after bombshell report

"What I said, I said it with respect. The reality is that the relationship is not what is use to be.

"It was a respectful relationship based on trust and sharing opinions but now it is not so good."

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