Nottingham Forest instability returns as Evangelos Marinakis hesitates over Vitor Pereira’s future

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis clearly does not fully back manager Vitor Pereira.

As per Ben Jacobs, Nottingham Forest are not prepared to give Pereira a contract extension this summer.

The Tricky Trees want to see how the start of the season pans out before making a final decision on Pereira, who only has a year left on his contract.

The 57-year-old oversaw a fine run of form which saved Nottingham Forest from Premier League relegation this season after he was appointed in February, but that is currently not enough to extend his 18-month deal further.

With midfielder Elliot Anderson expected to leave, and with the speculation swirling around Morgan Gibbs-White, it is likely that Pereira and Nottingham Forest may find the start of the season challenging.

Given Marinakis’ track record, stability feels like it will not arrive in the near future, and he looks to be creating the conditions to sack Pereira early next season.

Pereira became the fourth Nottingham Forest manager this season when appointed, and it looked like the Portuguese boss was able to get the best out of the squad.

Nottingham Forest picked up 17 points from 12 Premier League games, and were lethal in front of goal, which coincided with an upturn in form for Gibbs-White.

Defensively, Nottingham Forest tightened up under Pereira, conceding just 13 goals in 12 games, and they have since been able to tie Murillo down to a new contract.

Marinakis needs to back a manager and give them time to succeed at the City Ground, and it is unclear how much more evidence he needs to hand Pereira a contract extension.

Sources had told Football Insider that Marinakis was prepared to give Pereira a sizeable transfer budget to strengthen his squad this summer.

Whilst Nottingham Forest's summer transfer window could be shaped by outgoings, the club are keen to land a new striker.

The club can not continue to rely on 34-year-old Chris Wood up-front as injuries hampered his playing time this season.

Doubts remain over whether Igor Jesus can be a replacement for Wood in the long-term, whilst Taiwo Awoniyi is set to leave the club.

A new goalkeeper is also expected to be on Pereira's radar after he allowed Angus Gunn and Stefan Ortega to leave upon the expiry of their contracts.