Nottingham Forest ‘bid’ for Bundesliga defender who broke own-goal record

Nottingham Forest have reportedly bid €10million (£8.5m) for Stuttgart defender Konstantinos Mavropanos.

The former Arsenal centre-back looks set to move on from the Bundesliga club this summer, with a return to the Premier League very much on the cards. Reports in Greece claim that “first contacts have already been made” for Forest to sign the 26-year-old, though there is also interest from West Ham. David Moyes’ side are yet to make an offer for Mavropanos.

According to Greek outlet Sportime, both he and Stuttgart have “decided” it is time for him to move on – as they note the player has “grown up” during his three years playing top flight football in Germany.

It’s said that Forest have already submitted a bid of €10m for the defender, who last season made 30 Bundesliga appearances. He picked up nine yellow cards in that time, and was sent off once.

Speaking on his future last month, Mavropanos said: “These rumours don’t interest me. At the moment my focus is on my last two games that that VfB stay in the Bundesliga.

“I can’t make any promises because sometimes things in football can change from one day to the next. But what I can say is that I feel at home at VfB and I really enjoy my time here.”

His team went on to retain their Bundesliga status at the end of a dramatic season. Mavrapanos himself stole the made headlines in February when he scored a 52-yard own goal for Stuttgart with a “no-look” pass against second division side Paderborn in the German Cup. Luckily, his team won the match 2-1.