Vitor Pereira agrees to join Nottingham Forest, he must address damning Chris Wood evidence as top priority
Vitor Pereira is set to become the new manager of Nottingham Forest after he agreed to take the job on Thursday afternoon.
The Portuguese has reached an agreement with owner Evangelos Marinakis for him to take the reins at the City Ground, as the Reds have moved quickly after the sacking of Sean Dyche.
Forest are still trying to iron out the finer details of the deal to bring in the 57-year-old, but Sky Sports understand that it is “almost certain” that Pereira will be appointed, with the confirmation edging “ever closer.”
The former Wolves boss has a clear remit to keep the East Midlands outfit in the Premier League, and he already has an obvious priority at the top of the pitch that must be addressed immediately.
Vitor Pereira must fix goalscoring issues to ensure Nottingham Forest survival
Forest fans are seething with Pereira’s imminent appointment, after he was axed by Wolves after failing to win any of the opening 10 Premier League games at the start of the season.
The former Olympiacos boss has previously enjoyed success working under Marinakis, and he will be hoping to have an immediate impact at the City Ground and drag the team away from the relegation zone.
However, if he is to achieve that, then he simply must find a way to fix the team’s woeful issues in front of goal.
| Stats | Forest Total | PL Rank |
| Games | 26 | N/A |
| Goals Scored | 25 | 19th |
| Goal Difference | -13 | 17th |
| xG | 30.6 | 15th |
| Big Chances | 42 | 17th |
| Touches in Opposition Box | 593 | 16th |
Only bottom club Wolves have netted fewer goals than Forest’s 25 in the Premier League so far this term, and they received a stark reminder of their lack of cutting edge on Wednesday, when they fired 35 shots at Wolves’ goal for no reward in their goalless draw.
Forest’s inability to be clinical with their chances is highlighted by the fact that Chris Wood, who has played just eight league games all season and hasn’t featured since October, is still their joint-third highest scorer with two strikes to his name.
The New Zealand international is due to be sidelined until the end of the season, meaning that Pereira will simply have to find a way of getting more out of the other attackers that will be at his disposal.
The quartet of Taiwo Awoniyi, Igor Jesus, Omari Hutchinson and Dan Ndoye have just five league goals between them, despite the latter trio having cost almost a combined £85million last summer.
Only Morgan Gibbs-White and Callum Hudson-Odoi have more league goals than Wood this term, and if the new boss cannot find a way of boosting the quality and confidence of the attacking unit, then relegation surely beckons.
Lorenzo Lucca to regret Forest move already
Lorenzo Lucca infuriated Forest fans with his performance during the draw with Wolves on Wednesday, after the new frontman spurned a huge chance in front of goal.
The Italian has arrived in the Premier League with mixed reviews after his time in Serie A, and things have quickly soured between him and his new supporters, despite a debut goal in the defeat at Leeds United last week.
An imposing physical presence at six feet and seven inches tall, Lucca was seemingly brought in to suit Dyche’s style of play, and would have been expecting crosses to come raining into the box for him.
However, with the former Everton boss now gone just weeks into his time in England, he will surely be questioning his decision to make the loan move, given that Pereira’s imminent arrival is likely to see a style of play that won’t suit him.
Forest have the option to buy the 25-year-old for £40million at the end of the season, but Lucca may already be thankful that his move is only a loan at this stage.