Nottingham Forest sound out former Sevilla boss Jorge Sampaoli about becoming their manager as they weigh up replacing under-fire Steve Cooper before the end of the season
- Sportsmail understands Sampaoli was approached about the City Ground role
- But the Argentine is unlikely to move to the Premier League before the summer
- Forest, in the drop zone, are weighing up whether to replace boss Steve Cooper
Jorge Sampaoli has been sounded out about becoming Nottingham Forest manager, with the club mulling over whether to replace Steve Cooper before the end of the campaign.
Despite leading Forest to the Premier League for the first time this century, Cooper is on thin ice after a run of nine matches without a win that has seen the club slip into the bottom three for the first time since January.
Sportsmail understands former Argentina boss Sampaoli, out of work after being sacked by Sevilla three weeks ago, was approached by intermediaries about moving to the City Ground, with a deal that would have extended beyond the end of this season mooted.
It is thought, however, that Sampaoli is unlikely to move to the Premier League so close to the end of a season, with Forest in the bottom three.
The Chilean is also a target for Rio de Janeiro giants Flamengo, with the domestic season in Brazil starting this weekend.
Jorge Sampaoli (left) has been sounded out about becoming Nottingham Forest manager with the club mulling over whether to replace Steve Cooper (right) before the end of the campaign
Forest are on a run of nine games without a win that has seen them slip into the bottom three
Sampaoli’s ideas are similar to those of former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa but it is unclear how well the 63-year-old speaks English, or how he would view switching to the Premier League at this stage of his career.
He has managed both Argentina and Chile, along with Sevilla – twice – and Marseille, as well as Santos and Atletico Mineiro in Brazil, and Universidad de Chile in his homeland.
Forest did not respond with a comment to the Sampaoli link when approached by Sportsmail.
Despite frustration at boardroom level with Forest’s form, Cooper remains at the helm – unlike sporting director Filippo Giraldi, who was sacked on Tuesday after…