Nottingham Forest have been after manager ‘for some time’ – Yet to make ‘firm offer’ amid Cooper speculation

Nottingham Forest have been chasing Spanish manager Julen Lopetegui ‘for some time’ but are yet to make a ‘firm offer’ for him amid speculation over Steve Cooper’s future.

That’s according to EFE, relayed by Mundo Deportivo, who say the coach is a long-term target for the club despite Cooper’s successes with them.

The Welsh manager appears to be on the brink of being sacked following a miserable run of form that has seen Nottingham Forest 16^th in the table and just four points above Luton in 18^th.

Their struggles have been compounded by the fact that they sit just three points ahead of Everton, despite the Toffees suffering a ten-point deduction, and the pressure ramped up this week with a 5-0 loss to Fulham making it four defeats in a row.

While Nottingham Forest fans sang in defence of Cooper at Craven Cottage, the belief is that he will be sacked and Lopetegui, who is a free agent after leaving Wolves in the summer, has been put at the top of the list of potential replacements.

The report from Spain states that Lopetegui has been on Forest’s list ‘for some time’ but there has not been any ‘firm offer’ for him at this point.

That could change if they decide to sack Cooper, of course, but for now it appears he is more than a rumour than a firm idea for now.

With longstanding interest, though, it would make sense if he is the first port of call should Cooper go, particularly with him still in England and reports making it clear he wants a Premier League job after his time at Wolves.