Nottingham Forest transfer stance as Steve Cooper eyes key deal

Nottingham Forest have made their stance clear on their pursuit of athletic French defender Moussa Niakhate.

NottinghamshireLive understands that Steve Cooper is keen to sign the centre-half and that the club have held talks with the player who has been a Bundesliga regular for Mainz for the last four seasons. The 26-year-old left-sided central defender has a year left on his contract at the club where he has made 135 appearances in all competitions and scored nine goals.

Forest are looking to strengthen several areas of their squad this summer to ensure they have the strongest side possible to cope with the step up to the Premier League, having gained promotion in the Championship play-offs last month. If Niakhate were to arrive at the City Ground, he would provide competition for Joe Worrall, Scott McKenna and Steve Cook - with Tobias Figueiredo having already left and Loic Mbe Soh unlikely to feature in the Premier League.

The former French under-21 international is highly regarded among Mainz fans and has already been linked with moves to Everton, Newcastle and West Ham this summer. Fans of the Bundesliga club are not keen to see him go and believe he is capable of playing for a top Premier League side.

Sky Sports are also reporting that Forest have "held initial talks" with Mainz over the signing and is one of "a number" of players Steve Cooper and his recruitment team are looking at for the centre-back position.

Sky Sports' Dharmesh Sheth tweeted: "Nottingham Forest have held initial talks with Mainz over the signing of central defender Moussa Niakhate. Former French U21 international has a year left on his contract. He’s one of a number of players they are looking at in that position."