Taiwo Awoniyi was absent from Union Berlon’s pre-season preparations on Monday morning as he closes in on a return to the Premier League with Nottingham Forest, as reported by BILD.
If missing out on their top striker targets was the story of Forest’s 2021, then the same cannot be said of 2022.
Just ten days after the window opened, Steve Cooper’s play-off winners appear to be on the verge of announcing Awoniyi as; a) their new record signing and, b) their first new arrival since returning to the Premier League.
According to The Telegraph, the Nigeria international will set Nottingham Forest back £17 million, just 12 months after he left Liverpool to the tune of £6 million.
The powerful, athletic Awoniyi scored 20 times in all competitions during his debut season as a permanent member of the Union squad, firing the Bundesliga’s smallest club into Europe and scribing his name into Kopernick folklore for good measure.
In fact, only five players in the division scored more than Awoniyi in 2021/22; Robert Lewandowski, Erling Haaland, Patrick Schick and Christopher Nkunku among them. There’s certainly worse company to keep.
Nottingham Forest close in on ex-Liverpool man Taiwo Awoniyi
Awoniyi has never made any attempt to play down his desire to prove himself in England, having been denied the chance to represent Liverpool due to work permit complications.
“The Premier League is my dream. Everyone knows that, including here at the club. If I lived in England, it would be easier for my wife and child because of the language. Also, my sister and a brother live on the island,” he told Kicker.
With Nottingham Forest edging ever closer, that ‘dream’ looks set to become a reality.
BILD say that Awoniyi was due to undergo medical tests for Union at Berlin’s Humboldt University on Monday. He didn’t show. Presumably, because he was busy packing his bags and booking an Uber to the Brandenburg airport. Tag24 back up these claims.
Interestingly, Awoniyi could be reunited with former Mainz team-mate Moussa Niakhate at the City Ground. Nottingham Forest had a bid rejected for the giant defender, but Mainz will sell for around £13 million.
Awoniyi has also been linked with West Ham, though his agent scotched those rumours recently.
“No, definitely not true,” Max Brommer said when quizzed on West Ham’s alleged interest.
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