Nottingham Forest give Everton golden chance to land £13m captain

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Whenever a club tries to bring in a new record-signing, it can often descend into a tiresome, drawn-out affair. But not this time. 

Nottingham Forest needed only a matter of days to complete the history-making arrival of Taiwo Awoniyi, triggering the £17.5 million release clause in his contract while denying Union Berlin the chance to haggle for a larger fee.

Unfortunately, things aren’t quite so simple regarding Nottingham Forest’s pursuit another Bundesliga-based transfer target. Moussa Niakhate does not have a release clause in his contract. And, as such, Forest’s attempts to strike a deal are proving to be, well, complicated. 

Mainz have made it clear that they want a fee in the region of £13 million for Niakhate, the youngest captain in the Bundesliga last season. So Nottingham Forest’s opening bid – rumoured to be below £9 million – was never going to be well received at the MEWA Arena. 

According to Sky Germany, Mainz have been left with steam pouring out of their ears, labelling Forest’s bid ‘ridiculous’ while calling off negotiations. And it is understood that the O5ers currently have no intention of re-starting the talks any time soon either.

 Nottingham Forest’s Moussa Niakhate deal collapses

This does not change that fact that Mainz – to quote director Christian Heidel – are ‘expecting’ Niakhate to leave this summer with just 12 months left on his contract. The 6ft 3ins Frenchman appears to have his heart set on the Premier League, too, turning down Wolfsburg as he awaits an offer from England. 

Now, if we can rule out a move to one of Mainz’s Bundesliga rivals – and with Nottingham Forest’s hopes looking dead in the water – Niakhate may be running out of options. Especially now that West Ham have already stumped up £30 million for another left-sided centre-half; Rennes’ Nayef Aguerd. But don’t discount Everton.

Linked via The Telegraph towards the end of last season, a potential switch to Goodison Park is starting to feel increasingly possible. James Tarkowski has already arrived but he is more comfortable on his right side than the left. Niakhate, fast, strong and a real threat from set-pieces, could slot in neatly alongside Tarkowski in a new-look Everton backline, with Frank Lampard reportedly still in the market for more defensive reinforcements.  

As things stand, the only Premier League offer to land on Niakhate’s table has come from Nottingham Forest. But with negotiations collapsing, Everton have been handed a second chance to snatch a player who appeared to have moved out of their reach.