Nice submit improved bid for wantaway Terem Moffi

According to reports in France, Ligue 1 club Nice has increased their bid for Lorient's Nigerian forward Terem Moffi to €18 million in a bid to finally land their target.

Nice have already had a previous bid of up to €15 million rejected by Lorient for Moffi, but they have returned to tempt Lorient into selling their top scorer this season.

Moffi is wanted by a number of clubs and had been tipped for a move to the English Premier League, with Southampton, West Ham, and Aston Villa all interested in signing the prolific forward. 

It has been rumoured, however, that Moffi would prefer to remain in France even if he leaves Lorient, and this leaves Nice in the pole position to sign the 23-year-old forward.

Lorient are unwilling to sell Moffi for less than €30 million and are believed to have already rejected an €18 million bid from Southampton, but Moffi’s insistence on a transfer away from the club could force them to reduce their asking price.

According to Foot Mercato, Nice already have an agreement in principle with Moffi and hold some leverage over Lorient because the Nigerian striker is unwilling to extend his contract, which expires at the end of next season. 

Nice could use a striker, having struggled for goals in Ligue 1 this season. They have scored 22 goals in 18 league games, with six of those coming in their most recent game against struggling Montpellier.

In contrast, Moffi alone has scored 11 goals this season, half of Nice’s total tally and almost twice as much as Nice’s current top scorer, Andy Delort, who has scored six league goals this season. 

He could add some serious bite to Nice’s attack and help them challenge for a place in Europe next season.