Ange Postecoglou set for shock Tottenham reunion as 'direct talks' revealed after public fallout

Ange Postecoglou could return to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium sooner rather than later. The 59-year-old was controversially sacked just weeks after winning the UEFA Europa League.

Despite leading the Lilywhites to their first major trophy in 17 years, beating Manchester United 1-0 in Bilbao, Postecoglou was let go. Daniel Levy was heavily criticised by large sections of the fanbase when he fired the former Celtic manager, describing the decision as data-driven.

The Tottenham chairman also attributed the sacking to a poor finish to the Premier League season. Last campaign, Spurs finished one place above the relegation zone, winning just one of their last 12 games and claiming five points from a possible 36.

The Lilywhites replaced Postecoglou with Thomas Frank, who's enjoyed an excellent start to life in north London. The new Tottenham boss won each of his first two games in charge in the English top-flight, storming past Burnley and Manchester City.

Postecoglou was never given a chance to say goodbye, though he could reunite with some familiar faces sooner rather than later. According to talkSPORT, the former Spurs boss is keen on a return to management in the Premier League, and he's high on Nottingham Forest's shortlist of potential replacements for Nuno Espirito Santo.

The report claims that Evangelos Marinakis has already held 'direct conversations' with Postecoglou. It's said that the Forest billionaire enjoys a personal relationship with the Greek-born head coach.

talkSPORT has described Nuno's position as 'unsafe' despite having secured the east midlands outfit's qualification to the Europa League last season. The former Wolves and Spurs boss recently cast doubt over his future at the City Ground, claiming his relationship with Marinakis is 'not the same'.

Speaking with reporters ahead of Forest's game against Crystal Palace on Sunday afternoon, Nuno said: "We know each other very well, and we have all been in the industry for a while now.

"And where there's smoke, there's fire, so I know how things work, but I'm here to do my job. I understand, because I'm worried. I'm the first one to be worried. I'm the first one to be concerned."

When pressed on the rift in his relationship with Marinakis, Nuno added: "I always had a very good relationship with the owner; last season was very close. This season, not so well. No, it's not [good].

"I don't know exactly, but I'm being honest with you. I can't say that is the same, because it's not the same. The reason behind it, I don't know. I always believe that dialogue - and what you say or your opinion is always valid - because my concern is the squad and the season that we have ahead of us, but our relations have changed.

"I'm being honest with you, I can't say it's the same - because it's not the same. The reason behind it, I don't know. The reality is that it is not what it used to be. What it used to be was a good, respectful relationship, but was more based on trust and sharing opinions, and now it's not so good."

Nuno also aimed a subtle dig at the Forest hierarchy earlier on this month. Speaking to Sky Sports ahead of the opening weekend of the new season, the Portuguese tactician claimed that his squad were 'very, very far' from where he wanted them to be.

"We are very far - very, very far - from where we should be," said Nuno. "We are very far in terms of preparation, in terms of planning, in terms of the squad. So, we are all very worried that, in two or three days' time, we are playing for the Premier League, the most demanding competition in the world.

"And we are very far. Very, very far. The plans that we had didn't come through. The preparation in terms of squad was not ideal. We didn't have a chance to create the bond - and this is what I think is more important.

"Because we don't know which squad we have. We have players working here that know they're going to leave on loan. We have a major problem."

Forest will host Spurs at the City Ground on December 13, before Frank's side return the favour at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on March 21. If Postecoglou was to replace Nuno, he could face his former colleagues before the New Year.

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