Journalist reveals real reason why Nuno Espirito Santo could be sacked by Nottingham Forest

Nuno Espirito Santo could leave Nottingham Forest before Sunday's Premier League fixture against Crystal Palace, it has been claimed.

Reports emerged on Friday morning, via Spanish journalist Matteo Moretto, that Nuno's future as Forest manager was in doubt.

Moretto reported that there have been tensions between owner Evangelos Marinakis and the Portuguese coach, with the club's transfer business said to have played a part in those tensions.

He also claimed that Forest had identified former Spurs manager Ange Postecoglou as a potential replacement if they decided to part company with Nuno.

Although the club denied that they were considering their manager's future, Nuno himself did little to dampen the reports during his pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon.

He said: "I always had a very good relationship with the owner ... this season it is not so well, but I always believe that dialogue is important because my concern is the squad and the season we have ahead of us.

"Our relationship has changed and we are not as close. No, it is not good. I think everybody at the club should be together, but this is not the reality."

Forest produced a commanding 3-1 victory over Brentford on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, and will play Europa League football this campaign.

They take on Crystal Palace on Sunday, have completed four signings since the Bees victory for combined fees of around £85 million.

But prior to those signings, Nuno had been critical of Forest's inability to sign players during the pre-season window.

Significantly, The Athletic's Daniel Taylor reports that there have also been tensions between Nuno and Forest's new sporting director, Edu Gaspar.

Edu departed Arsenal last season and subsequently was appointed in a role working for Marinakis, who also owns Olympiacos and Portuguese club Rio Ave.

In July, he was named as Forest's Global Head of Football, a brand-new role.

Taylor claims that the Brazilian has had a 'spectacular fall-out' with Nuno and that the relationship between the pair is 'potentially irreparable'.

The row is said to have become 'deeply personal', and that the duo are no longer on speaking terms.

In one flashpoint, Edu is said to have blocked a move to sign winger Adama Traore from Fulham, according to journalist Ben Jacobs.

Sky Sports reporter Rob Dorsett, meanwhile, has indicated that the Portuguese boss's latest public comments took the club's hierarchy by surprise, and could see the end of his time at the City Ground.

Taking to Twitter, Dorsett wrote: "Marinakis and Nottingham Forest bosses baffled by Nuno's words - there was no intention of sacking him.

"But those words have caused some to seriously question his commitment to the job, feeling he may be trying to get sacked.

"Now a real possibility Nuno may not be in charge for Crystal Palace."

What has happened at Nottingham Forest?

One week prior to the start of the season, there appeared to be little cause for concern at the City Ground, with Forest having been 'promoted' from the Conference League to the Europa League after Crystal Palace were deemed to have breached multi-club ownership rules.

Star midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White also signed a new contract amid interest from Spurs.

However, the club had only signed four players before the start of the campaign, with just two of those - forwards Dan Ndoye and Igor Jesus - playing any role against Brentford.

Nuno told reporters prior to the Bees clash: "What we want is game-by-game to have as many options as possible. Europe will come after, and for sure it will be better, but for now until that happens it is a major concern.

"The owner is aware, the club is aware, everyone is aware. Everybody knows the reality. This is a lost chance that we had as a group to do it."

Marinakis has responded in the past week by completing permanent deals for Omari Hutchinson, James McAtee and Arnaud Kalimuendo, with Douglas Luiz also arriving on loan from Juventus.

But it remains to be seen whether Nuno will still be at the City Ground by September 1 to oversee the end of Forest's summer transfer business.