Vitor Pereira 'in trouble' at Nottingham Forest as mass City Ground exodus looms

Vitor Pereira is already at risk of being sacked by Nottingham Forest if they lose star players and endure a slow start to next season.

The 57-year-old was appointed following Sean Dyche's dismissal in February, and led his side to safety in the Premier League with an eventual 16th-placed finish.

However, they are at risk of losing a number of the club's most important players this summer, which could set them up for trouble when next season begins.

Former Man United chief scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that Forest are more likely to sack Pereira if he loses Elliot Anderson and Morgan Gibbs-White.

A strong start to next season will be crucial to the manager's future, but a long transfer window is looming and is likely to have a major impact on his chances.

Could Nottingham Forest consider sacking Vitor Pereira?

Former Everton CEO Keith Wyness told Football Insider last month that Nottingham Forest plan to back Pereira, but Evangelos Marinakis could "upset the apple cart".

While Forest have been keen to back their manager after a successful end to the season, with a new contract on the cards, they have proven in the past to be unpredictable.

Marinakis is notoriously trigger-happy when it comes to managers, and another season threatened by relegation could force his hand.

"Vitor Pereira will be under pressure, very much so," Brown told Football Insider.

"Forest are one of those clubs you look at, and you can see they're capable of playing at a certain level, because they have some very talented players there.

"But if they lose some of those players, like Elliot Anderson, Gibbs-White, Murillo, then it's going to be a massive blow, because they were battling relegation even with them.

"The problem is, the blame gets pointed at the manager, and then he finds himself in trouble when realistically the problems have been caused by losing key players.

"It looks like Anderson will go to Man City, there is a lot of interest in the other two, and if Forest can't keep hold of them, they're in danger of having a slow start to next season.

"That will then lead to frustrations, and the owner has shown over the last year what he is likely to do when they're threatened by relegation."

Which players could leave Nottingham Forest this summer?

Doubts over Nottingham Forest's preparations for next season have alerady begun to creep in, just weeks after they secured survival in the Premier League.

A difficult transfer window is now looming, with players including Anderson, Gibbs-White and Murillo all attracting interest from high-profile clubs.

Brown told Football Insider on 8 June that Nottingham Forest are determined to keep Gibbs-White as they have no plans to lose more than one key player.

Anderson looks to be edging towards a move to Man City despite a formal bid having been rejected, and his departure will strengthen Forest's resolve over his teammate.

However, should they prove unable to keep their best players at the City Ground, a downturn in performances could have a major impact on the boss' position.