Nottingham Forest have reportedly ‘opened talks’ with Union Berlin striker Taiwo Awoniyi as the club looks to secure its first signing since securing promotion back to the Premier League.
Awoniyi, 24, scored 20 goals in all competitions last season, including 15 goals in 31 Bundesliga appearances. The Nigerian international began his professional career at Liverpool but never made an appearance for the club.
According to The Guardian, Awoniyi has a release clause of £17m, with 10% of any fee set to go to Liverpool. Forest are keen on signing a new striker after last season’s loanee, Keinan Davis, returned to Aston Villa. Awoniyi, meanwhile, is thought to be keen on a return to the Premier League.
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Forest are not the only English club with Awoniyi in their sights. Back in April, it was reported that Newcastle United, West Ham and Southampton all held an interest in signing the powerful striker. Newcastle, in particular, will be difficult to compete with if the club decides to go after Awoniyi, given the financial resources at their disposal.
Earlier this month, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis pledged to back Steve Cooper in the transfer market as the club looks to make a positive impression upon its long-awaited return to the top flight.
“This club belongs to the Premier League,” he said.
“We will give Steve and his team all the ammunition he needs in order to be competitive next season and will try not only to maintain our position in the Premier League, but to perform well because the sky is the limit.
“In my life, whatever I have been involved with, I have always wanted to be at the top. It might seem difficult today, but it will be easier as time goes by.
“Everybody here lives with memories from the past (with this history), but sometimes we don’t see the future because we always talk about the past. Now, we need to draw a line and write a new history for this club. Brian Clough did a lot for this club and had big achievements. 40 years later, Steve Cooper has done something similar, even more difficult. We respect our history, but now is the time to write a new history even brighter.”
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