Nottingham Forest are set to confirm their first signing of the summer with the addition of former Liverpool talent Taiwo Awoniyi, who is set to join the midlands outfit following a successful season with Union Berlin.
Steve Cooper’s side are looking to strengthen their squad as they look to survive in their first Premier League season this millennium, and owner Evangelos Marinakis is seemingly willing to put his hand in his pocket to ensure they have the best chance of just doing that.
The £17.5m fee will be a club-record deal, eclipsing the £13.5m that they shelled out for Joao Carvalho in 2018, which in turn was almost double their third most expensive addition.
#nffc are close to making Taiwo Awoniyi their first major summer signing in a club record £17.5m deal. Growing confidence on Mainz centre-back Moussa Niakhatè but competition from Fulham for Liverpool defender Neco Williams https://t.co/mtHpk6LU8N
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) June 20, 2022
Awoniyi enjoyed a prolific season in the Bundesliga, netting 15 times in 31 top-flight outings, as well as grabbing two assists.
Forest on a shopping spree
Additions at the midlands club are not expected to end there, either, with moves for both Mainz defender Moussa Niakhate and Manchester United shot-stopper Dean Henderson close to completion according to reports.
Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, confident to get Dean Henderson loan deal done this week. Talks in progress, personal terms agreed. 🔴 #MUFC
Notthingham Forest are also working to sign Moussa Niakhaté from Mainz – negotiations are advanced.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 20, 2022
They are also interested in Liverpool defender Neco Williams, but will face competition from Fulham, where he spent part of last season on loan, for his services.
They are set to lose out on Djed Spence however. The right-back who helped them get promoted, is reportedly set for a move to Tottenham this summer.