Taiwo Awoniyi’s tenure at Nottingham Forest has taken a frustrating turn, with the Nigerian striker’s market value experiencing a sharp decline due to limited playing time under manager Nuno Espirito Santo.
Awoniyi’s value has dropped from €30 million to €22 million, roughly equivalent to ₦13.6 billion, as reported by Transfermarkt.
This significant dip in value reflects his diminished role in the squad, with his place in the starting lineup further threatened by the rise of Chris Wood, who has become Forest’s preferred striker.
Injury Setbacks and Chris Wood’s Emergence
Since joining Forest, Awoniyi has struggled with a series of injuries, which prompted the club to sign Chris Wood from Newcastle as a backup forward.
However, Wood’s strong performances have catapulted him to the top of the striker pecking order. The New Zealand international has already netted 10 goals in the 2024-25 season, making him the club’s current top scorer.
As a result, Awoniyi has found himself relegated to a more peripheral role. Espirito Santo has acknowledged that Awoniyi’s injury troubles and international commitments have contributed to his stagnation.
“It’s his fitness, his confidence, and he is looking for his goal. Everything changes in the mindset of a striker when you score; suddenly everything clicks. We are waiting for this moment, and we trust him,” said Espirito Santo.
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The manager also pointed to the club’s efforts to increase Awoniyi’s game time but noted the challenges: “What we have been trying with Taiwo is to increase his game time.
Unfortunately, if I look back, going into the previous (October) international break, he played and then immediately went with his national team and played five minutes. That was a step back.”
Forest Open to Offers for Awoniyi
With his role at Forest uncertain, reports indicate that the club is now open to listening to offers for Awoniyi.
Nottingham Forest are likely to listen to offers for Taiwo Awoniyi if they manage to sign a forward in January,
Source to the Daily Mail. #nffc pic.twitter.com/Qh7ksgDEPd— Talk Forest TV (@TalkForestTv) December 20, 2024
The striker, who has been frustrated with his lack of opportunities, may be considering a move away from the City Ground.
