(Credit: Imago, Hasan Karim - Breaking Media)

Oliver Walton

Sat 23 August 2025 12:54, UK

Leeds are now pulling ahead of Nottingham Forest in the race to sign Strasbourg forward Dilane Bakwa.

‘He’s brilliant’ – Pundit wowed by one Leeds player he saw in win over Everton	Murillo and Omari Hutchinson react as Nottingham Forest agree to sign another player	Matz Sels responds to Chris Wood's message after Nottingham Forest double

Leeds‘ Premier League campaign got off to a fine start on Monday (18 August) as they beat Everton 1-0 at Elland Road thanks to a late penalty from Lukas Nmecha.

The German forward has arrived to bolster their attacking ranks this summer, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin has also joined the Whites on a free transfer, and they recently wrapped up a deal for AC Milan attacker Noah Okafor.

Daniel Farke still wants more through the door before the transfer window closes, however, and Leeds have been linked to Bakwa in recent weeks, but have also faced competition from their Premier League rivals.

Nottingham Forest submitted a £21.8million bid for Bakwa at the start of August, but the French side have been holding out for a higher fee, and the Whites now look set to match their valuation and progress with a move.

(Credit: Imago)

22-year-old winger Bakwa notched six goals and eight assists in 30 league appearances last term for Strasbourg as they finished seventh in Ligue 1.

Despite Forest also being interested in his services, journalist Sacha Tavolieri (23 August) has now revealed via X that Leeds are now leading the race for Bakwa’s signature ahead of the East Midlands side.

MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES

He states that the Elland Road outfit are “ready to meet” Strasbourg’s €35m (£30.3m) price-tag to make a deal happen, and Forest have not ended their interest yet but now find themselves behind the Whites.

Football Insider verdict

If Bakwa was to make the move to West Yorkshire, then Farke would have a plethora of options on either wing, and one of his existing players would surely have to depart to help dressing-room harmony and give his squad more balance.

Jack Harrison has spent the last two seasons out on loan at Everton, notching five goals and four assists in 73 appearances across his separate spells, but is now back at Elland Road and part of Farke’s squad, much to the dismay of many supporters.

AppearancesGoalsAssists2073432Harrison’s Leeds career stats

Football Insider revealed last month that Everton were mulling over whether to reignite their interest in signing Harrison despite opting against a permanent deal when his loan spell ended, with his bridges believed to be burned at Leeds.

Okafor’s recent arrival at Elland Road has pushed Harrison down the pecking order to third-choice in his preferred left-sided attacking position, and he will also hold that status on the right side if Bakwa joins, with him, Dan James and Wilfred Gnonto ahead of him for places there.

It certainly seems likely that the former Man City man leaves the club soon, but Leeds may have trouble finding a suitor for his services so late in the window.

Related Posts


For more news relating to Everton, visit our sister site EFC Live.