Nottingham Forest are well underway in their preparations for the 2022-23 Premier League season after winning promotion to the top flight of English football for the first time since 1998, and are set to add another new name to their ranks in the form of French defender Moussa Niakhaté.

The 26-year-old center-back has been a standout performer at Bundesliga outfit 1.FSV Mainz 05 over the last four seasons since his arrival from Ligue 1 side FC Metz, and is now primed to test himself against the best England has to offer.

As reported by transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Forest and Mainz have reached an agreement in principle regarding the fee in the impending transfer, which would see Niakhaté become the fourth addition this summer at the City Ground.

Forest secured a deal for Manchester United number two Dean Henderson earlier today, and have also welcomed both Troyes defender Giulian Biacone (set for his medical today), as well as standout Union Berlin and Nigerian international center-forward Taiwo Awoniyi.

Though there has been no confirmed fee reported for Niakhaté as of yet, his current valuation of £15 million would potentially mean - barring paying above market value - that Forest will have shelled out nearly £40 million on additions this summer.

With valuable quality in depth coming in the door under manager Steve Cooper, who has targeted weaknesses at each end of the pitch which so characteristically define the struggles of promoted clubs, Forest fans can potentially go into the upcoming season filled with optimism that they could well avoid the drop.

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