Lee Charnley eyes reunion with former Newcastle United boss at Nottingham Forest

Former Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez could return to Premier League management with Nottingham Forest.

Forest boss Steve Cooper is under intense pressure after Monday’s 4-0 defeat at Leicester City inflicted a five successive defeat on the newly-promoted side.

Cooper’s men are bottom of the table despite signing 23 players in the summer for a combined total of £150million.

The Reds’ new-look squad has not yet gelled and according to the Daily Telegraph, owner Evangelos Marinakis considering a change.

It’s claimed Benitez is a contender to replace Cooper having previously worked with Lee Charnley, who has an advisory role at Forest.

Charnley, of course, needs no introduction to Newcastle fans after the former managing director’s long association with the Mike Ashley reign on Tyneside.

Benitez, the former Liverpool boss, has been out of management since being sacked by Everton in January after just six months in charge.

The 62-year-old managed the Magpies between 2016 and 2019 - winning promotion from the Championship before twice keeping the club in the Premier League.

Benitez, amid frustrations with the ownership, left St James’ Park at the end of his contract to manage in China with Dalian Pro.

The Spaniard revealed earlier this year he was open to a return to the dugout.

“Obviously as a professional manager, I’m open to every opportunity right now,” he said, “I love football and I love talking about football.”