Nottingham Forest are reportedly preparing to part ways with sporting director Edu Gaspar less than a year after he took on the role at the City Ground. The decision comes amid growing concerns about the club’s direction during a turbulent season, with owner Evangelos Marinakis believed to have lost confidence in Edu’s work behind the scenes.
Edu arrived at Nottingham Forest with a strong reputation following his time at Arsenal, where he played an important role in rebuilding the squad and shaping the club’s recruitment strategy. When Forest appointed him, many supporters hoped his experience would bring structure, stability and a long-term vision to the club’s transfer dealings.
However, his time at the club has been overshadowed by a difficult and chaotic campaign. The 2025/26 season has been one of the most unstable periods in Nottingham Forest’s recent history, with the club already going through four different managers. Such constant changes in leadership have created uncertainty throughout the squad and made it difficult for the team to develop a consistent style of play.
Reports have suggested that Edu’s relationship with former head coach Nuno Espirito Santo became strained during his time at the club. One of the major disagreements between the pair reportedly involved a potential transfer move for winger Adama Traore. Espirito Santo was said to be keen on signing the player in order to strengthen the attacking options, but the move was blocked. The decision created tension between the manager and the recruitment department and highlighted deeper issues in the club’s decision-making process.
While Edu was not responsible for every signing made during his time at Nottingham Forest, several of the club’s transfers have been directly linked to him. Among the players he helped bring to the club were Oleksandr Zinchenko, Douglas Luiz and Omari Hutchinson. At the time, these signings were viewed as ambitious additions that could improve the squad’s quality and competitiveness.
However, the long-term impact of those transfers has been mixed. Two of those players are already no longer at the club, raising questions about the effectiveness of the recruitment strategy. In modern football, sporting directors are often judged not only on the quality of players they sign but also on whether those players fit into the club’s overall plan and remain part of the project for several seasons.
According to reports, Marinakis had begun to question Edu’s approach several months ago. The Forest owner is believed to have closely monitored the club’s recruitment decisions and overall progress, becoming increasingly concerned that the project was not moving in the right direction. As results on the pitch failed to improve, pressure began to mount on the club’s leadership.
Despite the criticism directed at Edu, many observers believe that responsibility for the club’s struggles cannot be placed on one individual alone. Marinakis himself has faced increasing scrutiny from supporters and analysts for the way the club has been managed this season. Frequent managerial changes and a lack of continuity have contributed to the instability that has affected the team’s performances.
One factor that has added to the frustration among Forest supporters is the recent improvement of West Ham United, now managed by Nuno Espirito Santo following his departure from Forest. Under his leadership, West Ham have experienced a revival and managed to climb out of the relegation zone. Their improved form has come at a time when Forest have been struggling near the bottom of the Premier League table.
Forest’s difficulties have not been limited to domestic competition. The club has also endured disappointment in Europe after suffering a 1–0 defeat at home to Danish side FC Midtjylland in the Europa League. The loss has placed their chances of progressing in the competition in serious doubt and added to the sense that the season has not gone according to plan.
With the campaign entering its final stages, Nottingham Forest’s main focus has shifted to survival in the Premier League. Avoiding relegation is now the club’s most important objective, as dropping down to the Championship would represent a major setback both financially and competitively.
If Edu does leave the club as expected, it will represent another major change during a season that has already been filled with uncertainty. Marinakis will then face the difficult task of appointing a new sporting director who can rebuild the club’s recruitment structure and bring stability back to the football operations.
For Nottingham Forest supporters, the hope is that the lessons from this difficult campaign will lead to better decisions in the future. There is still time for the team to recover and secure their place in the Premier League, but with the season nearing its conclusion, every match and every decision will be crucial to the club’s future. ⚽