Nottingham Forest are closing in on the signing of Stuttgart midfielder Orel Mangala, reliable journalist Florian Plettenberg has claimed.

The Lowdown: Mangala linked with Forest move

The 24-year-old has been linked with a move to the Reds in recent times as Steve Cooper looks to bolster his midfield options ahead of his team's return to the Premier League.

Mangala has grown into a key player for Stuttgart, making 28 Bundesliga appearances last season and chipping in with one goal and three assists in the German top flight.

He is known as primarily a defensive-minded midfielder, an area in which Forest could arguably do with strengthening, such is the importance of that role at Premier League level.

The Latest: Transfer looks close

Taking to Twitter, Plettenberg claimed that Mangala's proposed move to Forest is edging close, with a move possibly even being completed by the end of Monday.

The journalist tweeted:

"News #Mangala: Next one from the Bundesliga! Mangala is on verge to join Notts Forest. Last details have to be clarified. Negotiations since days. Transfer fee around €15m - bonus payments included. All parties hope for a total agreement in the next hours."

The Verdict: Dominant midfield addition

Mangala is another exciting prospective addition for Forest, should the move be completed, in what has become an increasingly positive transfer window at the City Ground.

The Stuttgart midfielder has won one cap for Belgium and been described as a 'real talent' by their manager Roberto Martinez, enjoying an 83.6% pass completion rate and completing 1.5 dribbles per game in the Bundesliga last season.

Forest could do with players of Mangala's ilk to come in and make the team more solid and dominant in the middle of the park, as they prepare to come up against some genuinely world-class midfielders in the Premier League this term.