Leeds United Leading The Race For This Strasbourg Sensation: Smart Call From The Whites | OneFootball

If a recent update from transfer expert Sacha Tavolieri is believed to be true, Leeds United are in the driver’s seat for Dilane Bakwa. The Strasbourg attacker has been on Nottingham Forest’s radar for a while, but the Premier League newcomers have now leapfrogged the Garibaldis in the hunt for the €35m-rated youngster.

The 22-year-old French youth international progressed through the ranks of Boissy and Lusitanos Saint-Maur before joining Bordeaux’s academy set-up. Having impressed with their reserves, the wideman eventually secured a senior status. Although he was involved sporadically in Ligue 1, then-Girondins boss David Guion used him extensively in the 2022-23 season following their relegation to the second tier.

The promises exhibited by Bakwa saw him return to the top flight when Strasbourg tied him down for €10m in the summer of 2023. There, he featured extensively over the past two campaigns and has so far netted 11 goals and laid on 19 more in 68 appearances [stats via Transfermarket].

BELGRADE, SERBIA – APRIL 01: Dilane Bakwa (R) of France in action against Adrian Kapralik (R) of Slovakia during the Elite Round Group B match between France U17 and Slovakia U17 at Stadium Zemun on April 1, 2019 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by Srdjan Stevanovic/Getty Images)

Leeds United made a winning start upon their Premier League promotion. They defeated Everton 1-0 at Elland Road, and their fluidity in transitions grabbed attention. But the lack of finishing remains a concern, as the substitute Lukas Nmecha scored from the spot to secure all three points late in the match.

Why Leeds United Are Addressing A Major Problem By Snapping Him Up

The Whites have roped in several new names to bolster their first-team squad. Retaining the top-flight status should be the priority for Daniel Farke, who failed to do so with Norwich City twice before. While their defence and midfield looked solid, the attacking third lacked quality, given the standard and merit of Premier League football.

The German boss started with the Championship front three of Wilfried Gnonto, Daniel James, and Joel Piroe. But he now has Noah Okafor, their latest recruit, who is expected to replace Gnonto down the left in the upcoming fixtures. The Bosman arrivals of Nmecha and Dominic Calvert-Lewin offer depth up top, yet they are highly reliant on James on the right, even though he is not a modern-day inverted winger.

Bakwa, who has a stronger left foot, would fit in perfectly in Farke’s style of play. The Frenchman, renowned for his dribbling, directness, flair, shooting, link-up play, cut-ins, and crosses, is capable of making a significant impact in Leeds’ attack. Jack Harrison and Largie Ramazani are not viewed as starters, and the gaffer, therefore, must have definite plans, given that the club are ready to pay such a hefty fee for the Strasbourg star.