Nottingham Forest have been in a three-way race to sign Neal Maupay over the last week, and now a new update has emerged from a reliable source on the player's future.

What's the latest?

According to talkSPORT journalist and transfer insider Alex Crook, Maupay's representatives have stalled a deal progressing with Nottingham Forest to wait for more interest.

Crook told GIVEMESPORT:

“What I do know is that Maupay’s camp are not rushing to get him signed on at Forest. I think they are waiting to see what other interest there is.”

It's a blow for Cooper

There is no doubt that this will be a blow for Steve Cooper who will have been hoping to complete a deal for the striker by now in order to integrate him into the team as soon as possible.

So far Forest have made 16 signings over the current transfer window with Emmanuel Dennis and Taiwo Awoniyi being the two new centre-forwards who have joined the new-look squad at The City Ground.

However, it appears the club are not taking any chances and want to now sign a third forward to add even more depth to their front line.

Maupay, who Trevor Sinclair labelled a "maverick", could definitely add some more quality and proven Premier League experience to the team, as he has been a consistent and reliable performer over his 102 top flight appearances in front of goal. With that in mind, it's evident why a stalling of the deal is a blow.

The £15m Frenchman has scored 27 goals and delivered eight assists over his 109 appearances for Brighton and Hove Albion so far, and in the Championship at Brentford, he notched 41 goals and contributed 14 assists over 95 appearances, demonstrating the immense clinical abilities he could offer to the Forest side.

Maupay was lavished with praise by his manager Graham Potter last season, claiming his player has had the "biggest transformation" he has seen:

"Neal has grown as a person so he can deal with those setbacks [a penalty miss] that the Premier League throws at you a lot better.

"It’s probably the biggest transformation I have seen in my career, in terms of a player dealing with that. So it is huge credit to him."

With that being said, there is no doubt that the powers at the City Ground will do everything they can to get the deal over the line in the remaining weeks of the window.

It is a great opportunity to add even more Premier League quality to their team and if a move continues to stall and it ultimately falls through, Cooper will have every right to be gutted.