Sporting Lisbon are being linked with a move for Nottingham Forest boss Aitor Karanka, as per a report by Calcio Mercato.
The Portuguese giants are in the hunt for a new manager after sacking Jose Peseiro and the Spaniard has emerged as a potential candidate to replace him.
Nottingham Forest are currently 7th in the Championship and two points outside the Play-Offs under Karanka.
The 45-year-old played for Atletico Bilbao and Real Madrid in his playing days before ending his career in America with Colorado Rapids. Karanka got his first coaching role with Spain’s Under-16’s side in 2008 after retiring.
Karanka was then appointed the assistant manager of Real Madrid under Jose Mourinho in 2010 and spent three years with the European giants.
He then left Madrid after the arrival of Carlo Ancelotti and was appointed manager of Championship side Middlesbrough in November 2013. Karanka got Boro to the Play-Off final in his first full season at the club but they lost to Norwich City.
Nevertheless, the Spanish boss guided them to the Premier League in the season after they finished second behind Burnley in 2016.
Middlesbrough struggled in the Premier League and rather harshly sacked Karanka in March 2017 but he got back in the game with Nottingham Forest in January 2018. He is now looking to get a second promotion to the top flight on his CV in this campaign with the City Ground club.
Forest fans will be hoping the reports linking Karanka with Sporting Lisbon are untrue and they can focus back on their promotion push.
