BIG NEWS —Evangelos Marinakis has now made FINAL DECISION on Nuno Santo leaving the club to Join AS Roma amid heavy interest from the Italian giants to secure his signature as replacement for Claudio Ranieri

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is prepared to “move forward” with a renewed deal for head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, it has been reported.

Nuno has been at the centre of speculation over the past week, with suggestions linking him to a departure from the City Ground. Roma were believed to be interested, although Italian outlets later denied those claims, while there was also reported interest from Saudi Arabia.

The Reds’ failure to secure Champions League football following last Sunday’s 1-0 home loss to Chelsea prompted questions about the Portuguese manager’s future. Nevertheless, he reportedly retains the confidence of Marinakis.

Portuguese outlet O Jogo states the Forest owner “is willing to move forward” with offering a new contract to Nuno. The 51-year-old still has a year remaining on his existing deal, having signed a two-and-a-half-year agreement after taking over from Steve Cooper in December 2023.

Amid recent rumours and the Reds dropping from the top five to end the Premier League season in seventh place, Nuno was asked on Sunday whether he anticipated remaining with the club for the 2025/26 campaign. He replied: “Look, this is not the moment to speak about me, not even think about me. It is about the club and the idea for next season.”

Despite Forest faltering in the closing stages of the season, they have achieved notable strides under Nuno. European competition is on course to return to the banks of the Trent for the first time in three decades, thanks to qualification for the UEFA Conference League. They also advanced to the semi-finals of the FA Cup.

It marks a major improvement from the last two seasons, where Forest were fighting to stay in the Premier League. The current objective is to ensure this year’s progress isn’t short-lived.

Nuno believes the foundation is laid for Forest to keep advancing. He said: “We are in a good place. The platform we have is good. Now it is time to reflect and start working on the future.”

Before Sunday’s game, Nuno was asked about being linked to Roma and said: “Do you really think I’m going to waste time on that? So many things to think about and so much to get ready.

“My main focus is on preparing the team, trying to get the best solutions and details for the players. Nothing else.”