*Taiwo Awoniyi ‘set to complete medical at Nottingham Forest ahead of club-record £17.5million move’

Taiwo Awoniyi has said goodbye to his Union Berlin team-mates ahead of a £17.5million move to Nottingham Forest, according to reports in Germany.

The Nigerian striker is said to be poised for a club-record move to the Premier League new boys, who were promoted from the Championship via the play-offs.

Steve Cooper’s Forest have been linked with a big move for Bundesliga star Awoniyi, 24, with reports stating he will shortly undergo his medical with the East Midlands side.

BZ Berlin stated he said goodbye and left the training ground with a suitcase at 10.05am on Wednesday.

After signing for Liverpool in summer 2015, he failed to make a single appearance for the club over his six seasons at the club, with seven loans across Europe, due to work permit issues.

The former Reds striker spent the 2020-21 season on loan with Die Eisernen, before signing on a permanent deal for £6.5m last summer.

Awoniyi then scored 20 goals in 43 appearances in all competitions last campaign, attracting the attention of several sides around Europe, including ‘two other Premier League clubs’, claim reports from journalist Ryan Taylor.

The proposed £17.5m deal would give Liverpool a £1.75m windfall because they negotiated a 10 per cent sell-on clause when they sold him to Union Berlin.

If the deal is completed, the four-cap international would likely slot straight into the starting line-up.

Cooper only has veteran Lewis Grabban, 34, and Sam Surridge as out-and-out No 9s after Keinan Davis returned to Aston Villa after his loan.