Nottingham Forest target 34-cap star as first summer signing after impressive win against Sunderland
Nottingham Forest can start planning another season in the Premier League after a stunning 5-0 win at Sunderland on Friday evening.
Sunderland 0-5 Forest: Pereira delighted with “delicious” Reds.
Vitor Pereira challenged Forest to play “Champions League” football before watching them edge past Sunderland to move closer to top-flight safety.
Forest blew the Black Cats out of the water in a stunning first half at the Stadium of Light to extend their unbeaten league run to six games and build an eight-point gap on Tottenham ahead of Saturday's game.
A happy Pereira said: “It's great, it's great. I asked my team to play at the level of the Champions League because the Premier League is our Champions League.”
“I said to them, the win in this stadium against Sunderland – they are more than us by 10 points – means that we had to play at our best level, and in my opinion, the first half was full, technically, mentally, pressing, creating many problems by playing in a draw, scoring goals, not letting anything go.
“In the end it was about unity, defending and finishing the game with one more goal. [and that’s] It is very important at this time for us.”
If there was any luck in Forest's opening goal – Igor Jesus' goal went off the back of defender Trai Hume's head – there was an air of disaster with the three that followed six minutes later in the first half.
Chris Wood made the most of a mistake by goalkeeper Robin Roefs to extend the visitors' advantage and a fine strike from Morgan Gibbs-White and Jesus saved them at home to close the score before the break, Elliot Anderson only adding to Sunderland's woes at the death.
With four games remaining, Pereira refused to consider his team safe: “In my opinion, it's not enough, it's not enough, it's not enough. We need more points and we need to keep our mind. We can't relax.”
The club are however starting to make plans for the summer, and have been linked with an experienced international who wants to leave the club.
David Frattesi to Nottingham Forest: The midfielder wants to leave Inter
According to reports in Italy, via Sport Witness, long-time Forest target David Frattesi 'has his phone in hand' waiting to leave Inter at the end of the season.
The Reds tried to sign the 34-capped Italian in January, but only on a direct loan deal with no option to buy, while Inter opted for a permanent solution.
With just 12 months left on the 26-year-old's contract, the price tag this summer will be minimal, having failed to start the Nerazzurri's last seven league games as they chase the Serie A title.
For Forest, finding an experienced top-flight midfielder – who has won league titles and played in the Champions League final – could take some form of replacement for Elliot Anderson, who is closing in on a move to Manchester City.
Fabrizio Romano shares 'very important' Elliot Anderson to Man City update from Nottingham Forest
The Tricky Trees star has been heavily targeted by Pep Guardiola's squad.
