Nottingham Forest's reported first offer made to Mainz in transfer negotiations over Moussa Niakhate has been described as 'ridiculous' and said to have "complicated" the discussions.
The Bundesliga club's captain has been heavily linked with bolstering Steve Cooper's back line this summer with a move rumoured after four years by the Rhine River. NottinghamshireLive understands that Cooper is keen to sign the defender and that the club have held talks with the player.
A former France under-21 international, the 26-year-old has previously attracted interest from other Premier League clubs. Everton, Newcastle United and West Ham United were all linked back in April and now may have the opportunity to re-enter the frame if reports in Germany are to be believed.
READ: Forest ‘bid rejected’ as defender asking price revealed
READ: Forest transfer hope as club chief breaks silence
Sky Sport reporter Florian Plettenberg has revealed that there is no longer any "willingness to talk" and that bosses at Mainz don't want talks to continue after receiving a 'ridiculous' first offer from Forest. It is claimed that the transfer fee was "far below" €10 million (£8.6 million).
The München-based journalist tweeted: "Negotiations with Mainz complicated! There is no willingness to talk. It is said that the first offer of NFFC was "ridiculous". Transfer fee should be far below €10m. Mainz bosses doesn’t want to continue the talks."
Plettenberg had previously revealed that the player 'wants to join' the Reds and that there is a verbal agreement between Niakhate and the Reds on a four-year contract. It was claimed on Friday that Mainz "should demand" roughly £13 million for the defender, whose deal expires next summer.
