Nottingham Forest are progressing in talks over a £12million deal for Fiorentina defender Nikola Milenkovic. 

Milenkovic has been on the books of the Serie A side for seven years and has become a key player.

The centre-back, 26, started in both of their Europa Conference League final defeats against West Ham and Olympiacos in their last two seasons. 

It has already been a busy first summer at the City Ground for Nuno Espirito Santo, the highlight of which has seen Elliot Anderson arrive from Newcastle for around £35m. 

However, Espirito Santo will need defensive reinforcements after Moussa Niakhate was sold to Lyon for £27m. 

Nottingham Forest are advancing in talks to buy Fiorentina star Nikola Milenkovic for £12m

Milenkovic started all three of Serbia's Euro 2024 group games - including against England - and has 56 caps for his country.

READ MORE

EXCLUSIVE Insiders reveal what England's Euro campaign was REALLY like - and where it went wrong:

The Telegraph reports that he is set for a medical with Forest next week if talks advance sufficiently. 

He has been the subject of interest from the Premier League in previous years. 

As early as 2018 Manchester United sent a scout to watch the Fiorentina defender, who stands as tall as 6ft4in. 

Jose Mourinho, the United bos at the time, even went to watch him personally as Serbia played against Montenegro. 

Meanwhile, in 2021, West Ham were in talks with La Viola for him and rivalled Juventus for his signature but he stayed put.