Nottingham Forest suffer transfer blow as major deal hits big stumbling block

Nottingham Forest have reportedly hit a stumbling block in their pursuit of Mainz defender Moussa Niakhate.

The French defender is a target for the Reds to provide further competition for Joe Worrall, Scott McKenna and Steve Cook. Tobias Figueiredo has already left and Loic Mbe Soh is unlikely to feature in the Premier League.

Niakhate, 25, has a year left on his contract at Bundesliga side Mainz but negotiations have hit an impasse with the two parties apart in their valuations of the athletic defender.

Previous reports claimed there was no longer a "willingness to talk" from the German side having received a "ridiculous" first offer from the Forest camp. It was said that the fee offered was "far below" €10 million (£8.6m).

The Reds have seemingly suffered a further blow with Sky Sports today (June 26) reporting that Forest's chances of signing the defender are "receding" due to being unable to reach an agreement on the fee. They add that the Reds may now be focusing on other targets.

A former France under-21 international, the 26-year-old has previously attracted interest from other Premier League clubs. Everton, Newcastle United and West Ham United were all linked back in April and now may have the opportunity to re-enter the frame if reports are to be believed.

Forest are looking for reinforcements across the pitch, including in central defence, out-wide, and in midfield. They have added another striker to their ranks after signing Taiwo Awoniyi for a club record fee from Union Berlin on Saturday.

Issa Kabore and Neco Williams are being eyed up as possible replacements for Djed Spence should he complete a transfer to Tottenham Hotspur, whilst Arsenal's Ainsley Maitland-Niles has also been strongly linked with a move