Nuno Espirito Santo has rightly received praise for his work at Nottingham Forest this season, with reports suggesting a new contract could be on the horizon.
Espirito Santo is reportedly in line for a fresh deal, and it’s easy to see why given Forest’s impressive campaign. The team’s remarkable 7-0 victory over Brighton, which came as a direct response to their 5-0 defeat to Bournemouth, stands out as a highlight.
While the Forest squad naturally garnered most of the plaudits after the Brighton win, with Joe Cole singling out Murillo’s performance as one of many standout displays, Espirito Santo deserves credit for his tactical adjustments. He adeptly adapted to Callum Hudson-Odoi’s injury by implementing a fluid five-at-the-back system.
Brian Laws also commended Espirito Santo’s tactics in the match against Brentford, emphasizing that the Portuguese coach is finally receiving the recognition he deserves for his role in Forest’s resurgence this season.
It’s no surprise, then, that Forest are keen to offer Espirito Santo a new contract. However, the timing of the deal might not align with what fans are anticipating.
Nottingham Forest are holding off on Nuno Espirito Santo contract:
Evangelos Marinakis is undoubtedly looking to reward the team for their stellar performances this season, with the owner reportedly promising Espirito Santo a significant transfer budget if Forest secures European qualification.
However, according to exclusive information provided to Nottingham Forest News by Graeme Bailey, Espirito Santo will need to be patient regarding his new contract.
On Espirito Santo’s contract, Bailey said: “It is the diary for 2025 – they love his work, he is very happy. I believe they will want him tied up by the summer but with this now crucial run-in, they won’t want to distract him unless he really wants it done now.”
There has never been any indication of a strained relationship between the two, as Marinakis personally selected Espirito Santo for the Forest job over other candidates in 2023.
This suggests a strong level of trust between the pair, which hopefully means Espirito Santo will agree with Marinakis’ decision to delay contract talks until after the crucial Premier League run-in.
Nottingham Forest have a crucial run of fixtures in the hunt for European football:
Forest have performed exceptionally well to maintain a position in the Champions League qualification spots, but their next five fixtures could pose the toughest challenge yet to their hold on the top four.
While Fulham, their next opponents, have talent, Forest are likely to be favorites for that clash based on recent form. However, the following three fixtures will be far more demanding.
An away trip to face Newcastle United, who are also chasing European football and boast a striker in Alexander Isak who is in even better form than Chris Wood, is followed by back-to-back home games against second-placed Arsenal and a Manchester City side desperate to revive their season.
Marinakis won’t be using these fixtures to determine whether Espirito Santo deserves a new contract, but given the importance of these matches, any contract discussions will likely be postponed to avoid distractions.