Leeds United winger search drags on as Nottingham Forest come out victorious in £28m race

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Leeds United have been ramping up their efforts to sign attacking players in the last few weeks of the transfer window.

So far, Leeds United have come up empty-handed in their efforts. However, Beren Cross believes Leeds have pitched to several wingers while the efforts to sign Igor Paixao were ongoing. 

Leeds have a shortlist for each position that they are working through. Some players rank higher than others but Dilane Bakwa was linked alongside Bilal El Khannouss.

That came around the time that we suggested Dilane Bakwa as an option for Leeds in the summer transfer window. The French RC Strasbourg winger ticks plenty of the boxes Leeds are looking for.

• READ MORE: Long-term Leeds United now target heading for Premier League rivals amid Bilal El Khannouss chase

Leeds target Dilane Bakwa closes in on Nottingham Forest move

Bakwa was again name dropped for Leeds recently. That is after the 22-year-old had a strong season with the Ligue 1 outfit.

His career goals and assists so far are not out of this world in the same way Paixao’s have been of late, but Bakwa has a high ceiling in terms of his potential and is strong both in and out of possession from what is required of Leeds’ wingers next term.

However, Leeds aren’t the only interested party in the Premier League. Nottingham Forest then had a bid for Bakwa rejected in recent days. Now, Sky Sports Switzerland’s Sacha Tavolieri has the latest.

He claims that Forest are almost there regarding a deal for Bakwa. That’s because they have submitted an offer of €26 million plus €5 million in bonuses this Tuesday to complete the agreement with Strasbourg.

That is a fee of around £28 million. He reports that it has been refused but it brings the parties considerably closer to an agreement for the wide forward.

Of course, Bakwa’s arrival could free up Jota Silva for Leeds, albeit a deal for the Portuguese Forest winger certainly looks unlikely at the present moment.

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Leeds simply have to turn to Dodi Lukebakio instead

Alongside Dan Ndoye and Paixao, we liked the idea of Dodi Lukebakio and Leeds. The former, with Bakwa set to follow imminently, will be a Forest player next season.

Leeds fans want Sevilla’s Lukebakio as an alternative to Igor Paixao or Bakwa following the latest reveal. The 27-year-old forward was signed to the club in Victor Orta’s first summer and Leeds should be looking at Lukebakio as a replacement for Manor Solomon.

His ability to cut inside from out to in on the left is missed when he operates from the right-hand side. Willy Gnonto would benefit from a signing like Lukebakio, too.

Lukebakio would be a bigger signing than Jaka Bijol or Anton Stach. Not only does he have reliable output, but Lukebakio has the height, size, and athleticism needed as well.

He could also be a makeshift number-nine in an emergency as well, especially if Leeds have a few injury-prone strikers like Lukas Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.