By Pete O'Rourke, Transfer Correspondent

30th Nov, 2023 | 7:00am

Sources: Cooper told to secure Nottingham Forest top-10 finish as job under new threat

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis is targeting a top-ten Premier League finish this season as pressure grows on manager Steve Cooper, sources have told Football Insider.

Cooper’s job has been under threat on multiple occasions since promotion to the top flight and it is believed the 43-year-old is once again in danger of the sack.

Football Insider revealed on Monday (27 November) that behind-the-scenes pressure on the ex-Swansea boss is ramping up ahead of Forest’s next game against Everton.

A well-placed source has revealed that the Toffees clash is regarded as a “massive game” for Cooper’s future.

However, it is believed nothing immediate is likely to happen in terms of a potential sacking if the result goes against Forest.

Cooper’s side have now won just one of their last nine games and sit 14th in the Premier League table following their 3-2 defeat against Brighton on Saturday (25 November).

The Midlands side have an eight-point buffer to 18th-place Sheffield United and are three points away from 10th-place Chelsea in the top half.

Cooper looked set to lose his job in October 2022 with Forest sitting bottom of the table but was instead handed a new contract by Marinakis – which runs until June 2025.

The Welshman eventually led Forest to a 16th-place finish last term after the Greek owner’s mega-money investment in the playing squad.

Nottingham Forest face a packed festive schedule which sees them take on the likes of Newcastle, Man United and Tottenham before the new year.

The City Ground outfit have won just three of 13 Premier League games this term and have dropped points against promoted Luton and Burnley.

In other news, Nottingham Forest eye two January signings.