Nottingham Forest have seen a bid for Mainz centre-back Moussa Niakhate rejected by the Bundesliga club, who are seeking a bigger fee than what was initially offered.
Forest are looking to invest in the spine of the team ahead of their long-awaited return to the Premier League and are keen on striker Taiwo Awoniyi and midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White.
Niakhate is a proven top flight player, having made his Ligue 1 debut for Metz aged 21 in 2017/18. He moved to Germany just a year after that and has hardly missed a Bundesliga game for Mainz since – the Frenchman also scored four league goals last season and three in the one before.
90min understands that Forest submitted a €10m (£8.6m) offer to Mainz. But it was rebuffed by officials at the Mewa Arena, who are instead seeking €15m (£12.9m).
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Yet while Forest are left to consider their next move on the Niakhate front, 90min understands that a proposed loan deal for Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson is progressing.
Henderson signed a long-term contract at Old Trafford in 2020 when it appeared that he might have a chance of displacing David de Gea as the club’s number one. But it hasn’t turned out that way and the 25-year-old wants to start playing regularly again with a view to getting back into the England squad in time for the 2022 World Cup later this year.
Henderson is keen to stay in the Premier League, making Middlesbrough or Sunderland unlikely destinations. Forest and United are also on good terms thanks to James Garner’s successful loan.
