Vitor Pereira personally wants Nottingham Forest to sign ‘exciting’ Wolves star

Nottingham Forest boss Vitor Pereira personally wants the club to sign a Wolves star who he rates very highly, according to reports.

Pereira in line for new Nottingham Forest deal despite Marco Silva talk

It has been quite the turnaround at the City Ground.

When Pereira walked through the door in mid-February, Forest were in genuine peril — sitting 17th, three points above the drop, and on their fourth manager of the season.

Three months later, the picture looks dramatically different. Forest are clear of the bottom three with safety confirmed, and reached the Europa League semi-finals before falling to Aston Villa.

By any reasonable measure, Pereira has delivered.

Now, it appears Forest are ready to reward him.

According to The Athletic’s David Ornsteinthe club intend to hand the 57-year-old a new long-term contract. His current deal runs until June 2027, but talks are planned over an extension, with both the hierarchy and players said to be happy with the job he has done.

It is a significant show of faith from owner Evangelos Marinakis, who had been linked with a move for Fulham’s Marco Silva as recently as this week.

With his position strengthening, Pereira is turning his attention to the summer transfer window, and one target in particular carries a personal dimension.

Vitor Pereira wants Wolves star Mateus Mane at Nottingham Forest

According to SportsBoom, Forest are monitoring Wolves forward Mateus Mane, with Pereira himself driving the interest.

The 18-year-old has been one of the few positives in an otherwise catastrophic season at Molineux, making 35 appearances and scoring six goals across all competitions — including becoming Wolves’ youngest-ever Premier League goalscorer when he found the net in a 3-0 win over West Ham in January.

The connection between manager and player runs deep.

Pereira was in charge at Wolves when Mane signed his first professional contract, having drafted the teenager into his senior squad during the summer of 2025.

Sources close to Forest have told SportsBoom that Pereira was always convinced Mane would develop into one of the most exciting young talents in English football, and his performances this season — in a team that finished bottom of the table and was relegated with five games to spare — have only strengthened that belief.

Wolves’ collapse means a fire sale is coming.

Rob Edwards, who replaced Pereira at Molineux, will be handed a rebuilding job on a Championship budget, and Mane is expected to be one of several players cashed in to fund the reset.

Liverpool and Manchester United are both admirers and would be considered favourites if they formalise their interest, given the financial muscle and prestige they can offer.

But Forest believe they have a card to play that neither rival can match: guaranteed game time.

At 18, Mane needs regular minutes to continue his development, and a move to Anfield or Old Trafford would offer no such assurance. Forest, under a manager who knows Mane intimately and trusts his ability, could offer him a central role in the first team from day one. That pitch could prove persuasive.

No fee has been discussed publicly, but Wolves are unlikely to let one of their most valuable young assets go cheaply, even from the Championship.

The negotiation will not be straightforward, but with Pereira now seemingly set to stay and build, the conditions for a deal are better than they might have been a week ago.