Absent Edu headed for Forest exit door

NOTTINGHAM FOREST have told Edu Gaspar to stay away from the club, just eight months after his arrival as global head of football.

Edu, 47, was appointed in July after leaving Arsenal, where he had a key role in transforming the club under Mikel Arteta. Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis hired Edu to ‘oversee all football-related functions, including recruitment, performance, squad strategy and player development’, but it appears the Brazilian’s time at the City Ground is set to end. He did not attend Forest’s 2-2 draw at Manchester City on Wednesday, the third game in a row he has missed. Despite that crucial result, Forest remain in a relegation battle after a turbulent season.

Edu oversaw a disappointing £200million summer spending spree, which saw them bring in the likes of Omari Hutchinson, Dan Ndoye and James Mcatee for big fees.

But no summer signing has hit the ground running, and the departure of Anthony Elanga to Newcastle has proved costly. They also missed out on key targets such as Yoane Wissa, Jean-philippe Mateta and Jorgen Strand Larsen. Current boss Vitor Pereira is their fourth of the season, a Premier League record.