Nottingham Forest are set to sign Union Berlin forward Taiwo Awoniyi in a club-record deal, according to reports.
The Reds are reportedly close to agreeing on a club-record £17.5 million deal for the 24-year-old forward, according to The Telegraph. Last season, the striker had a terrific season with Union Berlin, netting 15 goals in the Bundesliga. Following the East Midlands side’s elevation to the Premier League after a 23-year absence, he is expected to become Steve Cooper’s first important signing of the summer.
The team is expected to face the German side in a pre-season friendly next month, which means Awoniyi might be poised for an early reunion with the club to which he is now registered. The forward was signed by Liverpool for about £400,000 in August 2015, but he was never able to break into the starting lineup and spent his six years at Anfield on loan to seven different clubs before transferring to Berlin permanently for an estimated £6.5 million in July 2021.
According to the Telegraph, Despite not making a single appearance in Merseyside during his tenure, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is a big fan of Awoniyi and believes he can make a difference in the Premier League.
Meanwhile, Forest manager Steve Cooper, who led the team to promotion last season, has agreed to a new deal with club owner Evangelos Marinakis while on vacation in Athens. The goal now is for him to increase his ambition in order to bring in more targets.
The club is also in talks with Mainz about a move for Moussa Niakhate, a highly rated centre-back, and it is expected that an agreement will be struck soon.
Neco Williams of Liverpool is another target for the club, with reports suggesting that the Reds are open to offers of approximately £15 million for the Welsh right-back.
Dean Henderson, the wantaway Manchester United goalkeeper, is another target they’re talking to. He is likely to take over for Brice Samba, who is rumored to be on his way to Lens.
