Nottingham Forest have identified Vitor Pereira as a primary candidate to succeed Sean Dyche, who was dismissed Thursday following a scoreless draw with bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers. Pereira would become the club's fourth manager this season after previous departures of Nuno Espirito Santo and Ange Postecoglou.

Forest confirmed Dyche's exit early Thursday morning. The 54-year-old managed just six victories in 18 Premier League matches since his October appointment, while the team sits 17th with a three-point cushion above the relegation zone.

Pereira, 57, has remained unemployed since Wolves terminated his contract in November. The Portuguese manager failed to secure a win during his first 10 league games with Wolves this season, though he earned widespread recognition for rescuing the club from relegation after arriving in December 2024.

The former Wolves boss maintains an established relationship with Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis. Pereira delivered a Greek league and cup double during a brief but productive stint with Marinakis-owned Olympiacos in the 2014-15 campaign.

Forest have won three of their last 13 matches across all competitions. The struggles culminated in Wednesday's stalemate with Wolves, which prompted supporters to boo Dyche off the pitch at the City Ground.

Dyche acknowledged his uncertain position after the draw. "If the owner wants to make a change, then that's up to him, and that's the way football is now," he said.

The managerial carousel began when Nuno departed September 8 despite leading Forest to seventh place and European qualification in 2024-25. Postecoglou lasted just 39 days without recording a victory before Dyche's appointment.

Forest contacted former Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini and considered Fulham's Marco Silva before hiring Dyche. The ex-Everton boss started with a 2-0 Europa League victory over Porto but secured only mid-table results in the continental competition.

The club faces Fenerbahce in the Europa League play-off round on February 19. Marinakis must now identify his fourth manager amid mounting pressure with relegation concerns intensifying.