sevendayweekender – Nottingham Forest have had a £30.2 million bid rejected for Strasbourg forward Dilane Bakwa. The club offered £23.7 million upfront, with £6.5 million in add-ons, but Strasbourg declined the proposal. They are reportedly demanding at least £30 million as an initial payment, in addition to performance-based bonuses. Despite the setback, Bakwa remains eager to join Forest and hopes the deal can be revived in the coming days.
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The 22-year-old French forward has impressed since he joined Strasbourg from Bordeaux in 2023. He has scored 11 goals and provided 20 assists in 69 appearances. His versatility to play as a winger or striker has attracted interest from multiple Premier League clubs, including newly promoted Leeds United and Sunderland. As a France Under-21 international, many view Bakwa as a rising star with the potential to make an impact in England’s top flight.
BlueCo, which also owns Chelsea, owns Strasbourg as well—adding complexity to any potential negotiations. However, Forest have made clear their determination to strengthen their attack and identified Bakwa as a key target. The rejected bid suggests negotiations remain active, and Forest may return with an improved offer soon.
Managerial Uncertainty Clouds Forest’s Transfer Window Strategy
Forest’s interest in Bakwa comes during a turbulent period at the club. Manager Nuno Espirito Santo recently acknowledged that his relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis has “changed.” He revealed they are “not as close” as before, raising doubts about his long-term position. This tension reportedly arises from his dissatisfaction with the club’s summer transfer activity, even though Forest signed eight new players.
The club brought in winger Dan Ndoye, who played in Sunday’s 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace. They also signed forwards James McAtee, Omari Hutchinson, and Arnaud Kalimuendo, along with midfielder Douglas Luiz to strengthen the center of the pitch. Despite these additions, Nuno remains unsatisfied with the squad’s depth. He has requested further reinforcements, specifically a new goalkeeper and two full-backs.
Forest are also preparing for a demanding Europa League campaign. Adding pressure to build a squad capable of competing on multiple fronts. Nuno’s concerns reflect the challenges of balancing domestic and European fixtures with a team still under construction.
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As the transfer deadline nears, Forest must make key decisions. The club needs to meet Strasbourg’s valuation for Bakwa and fulfill Nuno’s remaining transfer demands to strengthen their squad. If the board fails to act decisively, it could strain the manager’s relationship with ownership and cause Forest to lose ground in both domestic and European competitions.
For now, Bakwa’s future remains undecided, but Nottingham Forest are expected to stay in pursuit as they aim to finalize their squad before the window closes.
