Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo is set for decisive talks with club owner Evangelos Marinakis this week as uncertainty grows around his position. The Portuguese coach admitted after Forest’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace that he cannot guarantee he will remain in charge beyond the transfer window.
Tensions have reportedly risen between Nuno, Marinakis, and sporting director Edu over transfer dealings. The manager has voiced frustration about the lack of alignment and revealed that his relationship with the owner has been strained this season. Despite this, he insisted he has no intention of walking away, instead stressing the importance of dialogue to restore unity.
Callum Hudson-Odoi’s second-half equaliser at Selhurst Park stretched Forest’s unbeaten Premier League run to ten games, but off-field matters dominated the post-match discussion. Asked directly if he expects to stay beyond August, Nuno replied that he “cannot answer that question,” before adding that his focus remains on working for the good of the team.
The Forest boss believes reconciliation is possible and underlined that everyone involved wants what is best for the club. “I believe work with conflict doesn’t work out,” he said, noting that last season’s achievements created memories worth building on. For him, the priority is to “ignore the noise and work hard.”
Marinakis did not attend the Palace clash, where home supporters displayed a banner critical of the Forest owner. The discontent followed controversy earlier this summer, when Forest wrote to UEFA urging them to investigate Palace for potential breaches of multi-club ownership regulations. Edu, however, was present as Forest’s new signings featured from the bench, with Nuno still keen to add reinforcements before the window closes.
On the other side, Palace manager Oliver Glasner also made clear his desire for more signings after losing star playmaker Eberechi Eze to Arsenal. Glasner, now working with fresh investment from new American co-owner Woody Johnson, stressed that replacing Eze with a proven starter is a priority if Palace are to remain competitive in four competitions this season.
With just days left before the transfer deadline, Forest’s immediate challenge lies not only in securing new players but also in clarifying Nuno’s position. The coming talks with Marinakis could determine whether he continues to lead the club into the next phase of their Premier League journey.
