Nottingham Forest hold talks with Taiwo Awoniyi and Moussa Niakhate

Nottingham Forest look to the Bundesliga as they hold talks with Union Berlin’s Taiwo Awoniyi and Mainz captain Moussa Niakhate in hope of Premier League survival

Taiwo Awoniyi scored 15 goals in 31 Bundesliga appearances last season
The 24-year-old has never spent more than two seasons with the same club
Moussa Niakhate has missed just eight league games in four seasons with Mainz
The six foot three central defender’s contract will be up at the end of next season

Nottingham Forest have held talks with Union Berlin over a deal for former Liverpool forward Taiwo Awoniyi.

The 24-year-old scored 20 goals in 43 appearances last season, including 15 in 31 in the Bundesliga.

Union Berlin is the first club he has spent more than one season at. If he were to join Forest, it would be his ninth club in eight years.

Taiwo Awoniyi (left) scored 20 goals in 43 appearances last season, including 15 in the league

If Awoniyi could replicate his German scoring record in the Premier League it would go a long way to keeping Forest up.

The club also remain in discussions with Mainz over a £10m deal for centre-back Moussa Niakhate.

The 26-year-old has one year remaining on his contract and has been a regular presence for Mainz, missing just eight league games in four years.

Mainz defender Moussa Niakhate (right) has missed just eight league games in four years

At six foot three, Niakhate would be an imposing presence at the back and bring over 100 games of top-tier experience to the newly promoted side.

Forest are hoping to agree terms with Manchester United over a loan for goalkeeper Dean Henderson.

Pulling off all three signings would give the Tricky Trees a fighting chance of cementing their new Premier League status.