Rafa Benitez poised as Forest weigh up Postecoglou’s future

Rafa Benitez is firmly in the frame if Nottingham Forest decide they’ve seen enough of Ange Postecoglou’s rocky start. The Champions League-winning Spaniard, 65, is out of work after leaving Celta Vigo in March 2024 and, as GIVEMESPORT understands, he’d give any call from the City Ground the attention it deserves.

Postecoglou on the brink after winless seven

Seven games without a victory is no way to ingratiate yourself on the banks of the Trent, and Postecoglou’s early reign has hit choppy waters. Installed to replace Nuno Espirito Santo, the Aussie’s bold approach hasn’t yielded the points, prompting concern among the very people who brought him in. His future is now squarely under the spotlight.

There is, however, a potential lifeline. Three of the next four fixtures are at the City Ground, with Chelsea, Porto and Manchester United all due in before the international break. That run could flip the mood if Forest finally click on home turf.

Why Benitez appeals

Benitez brings gravitas and a track record of organising sides in a hurry. From Liverpool to Real Madrid and a stint at Everton, he knows the Premier League’s rhythms and the pressure that comes with it. Forest’s squad looks better suited to a compact, counter-punching plan than the pure front-foot football Postecoglou craves; if the brief is to steady the ship, few do it more methodically than Rafa.

Marco Silva admired — but politics and price bite

Fulham’s Marco Silva has admirers in the Forest boardroom, yet there’s an unwritten code about pinching bosses from Premier League rivals — and in this case, a sizeable compensation bill to navigate. Even for an owner as ambitious as Evangelos Marinakis, swooping now could look messy in the wake of orchestrating Nuno’s exit.

Timing, options and leverage

Benitez has other irons in the fire — two possibilities may have surfaced within a week — but sources indicate he’d prioritise Forest if the call comes quickly. The powerbrokers are compiling their shortlist behind the scenes, and the clock is ticking over this decisive stretch.

For those keeping an eye on the odds via best betting sites, the next three home games could ultimately decide whether Postecoglou survives or Forest pivot to Benitez. Momentum now matters as much as performances.

Pundit’s verdict

This feels like last-chance saloon territory. If Postecoglou conjures a response — fast starts, set-piece bite, and a clean sheet or two — the shortlist goes back in the drawer. If not, don’t be shocked to see Forest turn to the pragmatist-in-chief. Benitez may not be the romantic choice, but he’s a safe pair of hands, and right now safety might be exactly what the City Ground craves.