French side Olympique Marseille are in ‘advanced’ negotiations for Nottingham Forest linked defender Romain Saiss, according to reports.
The Reds have been credited with an interest in the former Wolverhampton Wanderers central defender since the January window. Reports earlier this week claimed that Forest were preparing to make a £3.4 million bid for the player.
It now however seems that another club have taken the lead in the race for the 33-year-old. According to RMC Sport , Marseille are talking to both the player and his current club Besiktas over a possible summer move.
It is said that negotiations are at an ‘advanced’ stage and Saiss ‘wants’ to join the Ligue 1 club. The defender is reportedly discussing a two-year contract with the club with the option of a third year.
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The fee mentioned between the two clubs is again said to be around €4 million (£3.4m), but Marseille could end up paying below that if a deal is completed. Saiss could go to the French club as a replacement for Manchester United loanee Eric Bailly who will return to Old Trafford in the summer after spending a season on loan will OM.
Any potential move to Ligue 1 will see Saiss return to the league where he started his career. He played for Clermont Foot, Le Harve and Angers before moving to Wolves in August 2016. The defender played a total of 206 times in the Championship and Premier League before moving onto Besiktas last summer.
Steve Cooper is expected to add to his centre-back options in the current transfer window, given the injury problems in the position in the season just gone. With Jonathan Panzo expected to leave after being linked to Rangers, it will leave Forest with six first team centre-back options, including Steve Cook who was left out of the Premier League squad for the second half of the campaign.
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