BY ANDREW EKEJIUBA
Nigeria forward Taiwo Awoniyi visits Stadion An der Alten Försterei at the weekend as Nottingham Forest lost 1-0 to Union Berlin in a pre-season friendly.
Awoniyi got a rousing reception from the 15,467 fans inside the stadium.
The 24-year-old was in the good books of Union Berlin for two seasons.
The fast rising striker moved to Nottingham Forest from Union Berlin in a club record transfer.
Awoniyi returned to familiar surroundings at the weekend and was warmly received by his former teammates and the fans of The Iron Ones.
He missed a big chance to get on the score sheet in the game five minutes before the break.
In 65 appearances for Union Berlin before moving to the City Ground, Awoniyi netted 25 times and contributed nine assists.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s Anglo-American-Nigerian centre-forward Folarin Balogun is drawing interest from French Ligue 1 club Stade de Reims.
According to authoritative reports, Reims are on the trail of the England U21 international.
Reims are looking at signing a replacement for Hugo Ekitike who joined Paris Saint-Germain this summer and Balogun has emerged as one of the strikers shortlisted to fill the void left by the France U20 international.
The Hale End Academy graduate is seemingly not in the plans of manager Mikel Arteta at least for the first half of the season as he was not utilised in their last two pre-season games against Everton and Orlando City.
He is expected to depart the Emirates Stadium on loan before the close of the window in search of first team football.
Balogun spent the second half of last season on loan at Championship outfit Middlesbrough FC, where he made twenty-one appearances in all competitions, registering three goals and three assists.
He has appeared ten times for the first team of the Gunners and signed a new four-year deal in April 2021.
