Former Everton and Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is being linked with Steve Cooper's job at Nottingham Forest.

The Daily Mail says after last night's 4-0 defeat at Leicester City, it is understood Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis has started the process of identifying candidates to replace Cooper.

Cooper's position as Forest boss has been in doubt for a number of weeks amid behind-the-scenes tensions after the club signed 22 players during the summer transfer window.

Cooper still hasn't signed a new contract that was offered to him in the summer, with a number of clubs monitoring his situation.

If Cooper loses his job, Benitez and ex-Burnley manager Sean Dyche - who has visited at the City Ground this season - are available and looking for routes back into football.

Both also have a history of keeping relegation-threatened teams in the Premier League, though sources were indicating last night that Benitez had not been approached.