Journalist Julien Laurens believes that Nottingham Forest signing Moussa Niakhate will be a success at the City Ground.
Speaking on the Totally Football Show the French reporter sang the praises of the 26-year-old who arrived from Mainz.
The centre-back captained the German club to their best Bundesliga finish in five years as they finished eighth last season.
After 128 top-flight appearances in Germany the 6 ft 2 defender was announced as a Forest player this week in a deal worth for an initial £8.5m and could prove a fantastic business.
It has certainly got Laurens’ seal of approval and although he has stated that there may be a language barrier he is expecting good things from the former France U21 international.
“Niakhate, I’ve got no doubt he is a great signing, he really is. He had a really good season with Mainz. He’s strong, he’s tall, he’s got leadership qualities, he’s a very good guy.
“Everybody’s going to like him at the club, within the dressing room. His English is not great yet, but he’s typically the kind of guy who will immerse himself so well into the club, the culture, the dressing room, the camaraderie and everything, that I expect his English to pick up pretty quickly.
“It’s not bad, but to be the leader that he can be because he’s got those natural qualities, he will add that to what he has already, and for me, Niakhate is an outstanding signing for a club like Forest.”
TIF Thoughts on Niakhate and Forest…
Will Forest survive next season?
Yes
No
The new addition will certainly bring a level of quality not currently at the club having played over 150 games in two of Europe’s top five leagues.
While his pass completion rate is similar to that of the Joe Worrall, Steve Cook and Scott McKenna (Fbref) he is among the top 10% of centre-backs in Europe when it comes to progressive carries giving Steve Cooper variability when playing out from the back.
He made more tackles per game than all but one of the current Forest players last season with 2.1 and he is definitely a threat in the opposition box scoring four goals in the most recent campaign.
While it remains to be seen whether Laurens’ view holds true it i certainly encouraging for fans of the east Midlands club as they look to confirm their place among England’s elite this term.