After weeks of speculation, Nottingham Forest finally pulled the plug on Nuno Espirito Santo’s time as manager. The Portuguese tactician revealed his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had soured just one week into the Premier League season, with talk Forest were contemplating a change in the dugout.
It was confirmed on Monday night that Nuno had been relieved of his duties, with Forest announcing Ange Postecoglou as the replacement on Tuesday evening. It’s a mammoth task for Postecoglou, who was sacked by Tottenham Hotspur at the end of last season, but what if the Aussie looked to raid his former club in the January transfer window? Express Sport have picked out four potential Spurs players Postecoglou could look to reunite with.
Radu Dragusin
One of several players on the list who were signed by Postecoglou during his two-season stint at Spurs. Radu Dragusin blew hot and cold under the ex-Celtic chief, but the Romanian is very much in the style of central defender Postecoglou looks towards. Seemingly out of the starting XI picture at Tottenham, Dragusin could prove an attractive proposition for Postecoglou and Forest in January.
Mathys Tel
Mathys Tel proved the final signing of the Postecoglou era, with the youngster joining on Deadline Day of the 2025 January window. The forward initially arrived on loan from Bayern Munich, but Spurs made the deal a permanent one earlier this summer. However, Tel was left out of Tottenham’s Champions League squad, sparking doubts about his future in north London. While Tel is most probably outside of Forest’s price range, perhaps a mid-season loan deal could interest the East Midlands outfit instead?
Ben Davies
There was a suggestion that Ben Davies might’ve been heading for the exit door himself this summer, but the veteran defender remains in the Spurs squad. That being said, he is out of contract at the end of the season and is unlikely to be handed an extension by Spurs, meaning a move away from the capital club is probably on the horizon. As far as short-term options are concerned, bringing in Davies, a player who knows the ins and outs of an Ange system, may prove worthwhile.
Destiny Udogie
It’s funny how quickly times can change in football. During the early part of Postecoglou’s reign, Destiny Udogie was establishing himself as one of the standout fullbacks in the Premier League. Since then, a string of injuries have set him back, while previous castaway Djed Spence has emerged as Spurs’ strongest left-back option. If Udogie is unable to wrestle his way into Thomas Frank’s plans, he could find refuge under Postecoglou at the City Ground.