(Credit: Hasan Karim - Breaking Media, Paul Bonser/SPP)

Oliver Walton

Thu 7 August 2025 12:38, UK

Nottingham Forest could be set to make a decision on Jota Silva’s future at the club as they enter negotiations to sign Strasbourg attacker Dilane Bakwa.

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Nottingham Forest exceeded all expectations and remained in the race for Champions League football until the final day of last season, eventually finishing in the Conference League places.

Former Everton chief Keith Wyness recently revealed to Football Insider that Nuno and owner Evangelos Marinakis will need to agree on selling some key men in the coming months, and they have already sold Anthony Elanga to Newcastle United this summer.

(Credit: Hasan Karim, Breaking Media)

Portuguese winger Silva was not a mainstay in their starting eleven last term, but he certainly played his part in their success with four goals and three assists in 37 appearances after a £6million [The Athletic] move from Vitoria Guimaraes last summer.

His lack of starts last term could well push him to leave the club after just one season, however, with a recent report from Portuguese outlet O Jogo linking him with a move to Sporting CP, while Turkiye Gazetesi have claimed that Turkish giants Fenerbahce are lining up a loan-to-buy deal to secure his services, and new developments could mean that his exit is soon sealed.

Journalist Sacha Tavolieri has reported via X that Forest have submitted an offer of €25million (£21.8m) plus €5m (£4.3m) in bonuses for Strasbourg right-winger Bakwa.

The Ligue 1 outfit are believed to be demanding at least €35m (£30.5m) for the 22-year-old, and so will not accept the Reds’ opening bid, while other clubs in the Premier League & Italy are monitoring the situation.

https://x.com/sachatavolieri/status/1953375851929604471?s=46&t=busTurDhk_-RswKrlS6YdA

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If Forest do go back in for Bakwa and get a deal over the line, then it seems very clear that Silva will be let go this summer, especially after The Athletic (6 August) reported that Portuguese giants Sporting have now made an enquiry to Forest over a potential move for the 26-year-old winger.

If a deal progresses, talks are expected to centre around a loan move for Silva, and he looks set to depart anyway with interest in Bakwa now having materialised into a genuine transfer approach.

Bakwa is younger than Silva and notched six goals and eight assists in 30 league appearances last term, which is a better output than the Portuguese winger’s four goals and three assists in 37 games.

Jota had been keen to push for more of an opportunity in the Forest side in the coming campaign, according to The Athletic, but already finds himself with serious competition for places, especially after Dan Ndoye’s recent arrival from Bologna for £35m [The Athletic].

There is certainly a case to be made that Forest need all the continuity and consistency they can get from last season to the next, particularly in attack, considering they have already sold Elanga and brought in the likes of Ndoye and Igor Jesus.

Silva did not set the league alight in his debut season in the East Midlands, but he was always a handy, like-for-like option for Nuno Espirito Santo to bring on, and it would seem somewhat short-sighted to let him leave this summer.

AppearancesStartsGoalsAssists37843Jota Silva’s 24/25 Forest stats

The 25-year-old netted the joint most goals as a substitute by a Reds player in a Premier League season [BBC], with three strikes off the bench, and with Forest set to play in the Europa League due to Crystal Palace’s demotion, they will need a player like him to help with rotation, especially since he has European experience from his time at Vitoria.

It remains to be seen whether he leaves the club soon, but if he does, it is imperative that Forest bring in Bakwa or a similar player to replace his impact off the bench going forward.

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