Mainz director of football Christian Heidel has handed Nottingham Forest a boost in their pursuit to sign Moussa Niakhate.
The Reds are keen to sign the centre-half and have held talks with the 26-year-old over a move from the Bundesliga side to the City Ground. Niakhate has been a regular for Mainz over the course of the previous four years and has only a year remaining on his deal after signing from Metz in 2018
Niakhate, a left-sided central defender, is a target identified by Forest to strengthen one of several areas of their squad this summer to ensure they maintain their Premier League status next season, having gained promotion from the Championship via the play-offs.