Bundesliga basement battlers Mainz 05 are plotting an urgent January swoop for Nigerian striker Taiwo Awoniyi, according to reports. The club, stuck at the bottom and desperately short of goals, sees the Nottingham Forest forward conspicuously absent from the Africa Cup of Nations as a prime target to fire their survival bid.
German magazine Kicker claims Mainz have identified the 28 year old as a leading option for the winter window. Awoniyi’s opportunities have dried up at Forest this season, making a return to Germany, where he once thrived, a serious possibility.
The Fischer Factor: A Familiar Firefighter
A move to the Mewa Arena would see Awoniyi reunite with a key figure in his career: Mainz boss Urs Fischer. It was Fischer who, during his time at Union Berlin, pushed to sign Awoniyi permanently from Liverpool. That faith was repaid in spades, with the striker netting 20 goals in the 2021-22 season to fire Union into Europe.
Awoniyi knows the club and the league, too, having spent the 2019-20 season on loan at Mainz. That spell was underwhelming, just one league goal but his subsequent explosion at Union under Fischer changed everyone’s perception of his capabilities.
Forest Exit Looks Inevitable
Awoniyi’s stall at the City Ground has him firmly behind Chris Wood and Igor Jesus in Nuno Espírito Santo’s plans. Injuries haven’t helped, limiting him to just five Premier League appearances this term. His declining role and form were starkly highlighted by his omission from Nigeria’s AFCON squad, a major setback for the striker.
Forest paid around €20.5m to Union Berlin for him in 2022, but his market value has dipped since. A January move, likely a loan with an option, could suit all parties. For Mainz, it’s a calculated gamble on a known quantity with a point to prove. For Awoniyi, it’s a chance to resurrect his career under the manager who knows how to get the best out of him. The battle to beat the drop just got a potential new subplot.
