Nottingham Forest are reportedly 'desperate' for Steve Cooper to sign a new contract to stay at the club amid interest from Brighton and Hove Albion.
This desperation from Forest, according to journalist Alan Nixon, is because they stand to only receive as little as £1.5 million should Cooper leave on his current contract. It is, though, added that any exact compensation figure remains a closely-guarded secret but is understood to be on the lower end of the scale, with just nine-and-a-half months remaining on the deal.
The Seagulls are still yet to appoint a replacement for head coach Graham Potter, who succeeded Thomas Tuchel at Chelsea ten days ago and are apparently an admirer of Cooper 's work in orchestrating the club's improbable promotion to the Premier League last season. They are said to still be fans despite the Reds ' start to the season that currently sees them sit second-bottom of the league table.
Former Sassuolo and Shakhtar Donetsk boss Roberto De Zerbi, who left the Ukrainian club in July amid the ongoing war following Russia's invasion of the country earlier this year, is reportedly the frontrunner to fill the Brighton vacancy, but until an announcement is confirmed, then the situation will remain a worry for Forest. Cooper has yet to sign a contract extension since replacing Chris Hughton in the dugout exactly a year ago next Wednesday.
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If Cooper does depart then Norwegian Kjetil Knutsen, also lined with Brighton, has been touted by Nixon after his work with Bodo Glimt. It is claimed Forest would look to a foreign coach next.
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