Two former Nottingham Forest bosses could be set to battle it out for a Premier League job

Two former Nottingham Forest bosses are reportedly on the radar of Crystal Palace as Pierre Sage comes under pressure.

Should the Eagles decide to axe the Frenchman, Sean Dyche and Vitor Pereira could be set to battle it out for the job. The pair have both been out of management since being sacked by the Reds earlier this year.

Sage took charge at Selhurst Park in June, following the departure of Oliver Glasner at the end of his contract. Glasner went on to join Forest, replacing Pereira after he was given the boot in the summer.

Palace are currently one point and one place above the 18th-placed Reds in the Premier League table. But whereas it is clear what Glasner is trying to do Trentside and results have not always matched performances, Sage is said to be “under intense pressure” in the capital.

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According to The Telegraph, Dyche is a “front-runner” to pick up the reins if the south London club decide to make a change. There is said to be a question mark over whether he would want to return to management given he has turned to media work since leaving the City Ground.

Pereira is also “appreciated” by Palace, according to talkSPORT. Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Thomas Frank and ex-striker Robbie Keane are identified as other potential options as “contingency plans” are drawn up.

It is almost exactly a year since Dyche replaced Ange Postecoglou in the Forest hot seat. The 55-year-old took charge on October 21, 2025, becoming the club’s third manager of the season in the process.

He lasted less than four months before being sacked as the Reds fought for top-flight survival. Pereira came in and guided the club to safety, as well as overseeing a run to the Europa League semi-finals.

The Portuguese recently indicated he was waiting for the right opportunity to return to management. He stated a desire to remain in English football.

"The Premier League is my focus, and I’m preparing as well as I can to come back, because that’s where I want to be,” Pereira said. "It’s where I feel challenged and motivated, and I’m waiting for the opportunity to return.”

Dyche recently said of a potential management return: “We’ll see. You never know. I wasn’t desperately looking when Forest came along.

“It changes and if I get a phone call I’ll have a decision to make, but at the minute there hasn’t been a decision to make. It’s been pretty easy going and I’ve enjoyed looking down different avenues.”