Following the signing of Noah Okafor, Leeds United are continuing to look to strengthen their attack with the signing of yet another winger. Already spending over €100m this window, the Whites are ready to dig deep into their budget for a marquee signing.
Leeds have already been reasonably liberal with their signings this summer, seeing nine players join the club. The almost complete overhaul of the squad comes following promotion from the Championship, and the threat of being relegated back to the second tier.
Most of Leeds‘ transfer business has focused on building the squad through strengthening defensive positions. This is epitomised by the signings of defenders Jaka Bijol, Sebastiaan Bornauw, and 6’4″ central midfielder Anton Stach, who has also played as a defender in Germany.
Leeds United looking at forward options
Despite the majority of Leeds‘ signings adding strength and height to the squad, they have begun to focus on adding creativity and goals to a squad that is almost complete. The signing of Dominic Calvert-Lewin, followed by securing Noah Okafor for around €20m, certainly added quality in offensive positions, but the attack still looks reasonably lacklustre.
Now, according to Sacha Tavolieri on X, Leeds are willing to match RC Strasbourg’s valuation of €35m for Dilane Bakwa.
🟡🏴 Leeds United now leading the race for Dilane Bakwa. #LUFC are now ready to meet Racing Strasbourg expectations which around €35M to make a deal happen. #NFFC has not left but the newly promoted are now ahead.
⏳ Wait&See… #mercato #RCSA pic.twitter.com/7ulh4IUQx2— Sacha Tavolieri (@sachatavolieri) August 23, 2025
Bakwa, 22, has been one of Strasbourg’s standout players for the past few seasons and was the club’s Player of the Season in their 2023/24 season. Despite just being 22, he has already achieved 14 goal contributions in each of his two seasons in Ligue 1, and 12 in Ligue 2 before he turned 20.
While the signing will add creativity to Daniel Farke’s side, it will also add some young talent to a side which consists most of players in their late 20s. All of the Whites’ signings so far are aged 25 and 28, an age range which many would consider to be a player’s prime.
Competition to sign Bakwa
While Leeds United allegedly lead the way to sign Dilane Bakwa, they aren’t the only club in for the winger’s signature. Nottingham Forest are also interested in the Frenchman, but may struggle to guarantee playtime for the young player with Ndoye and Hudson-Odoi starting the season strongly. Nevertheless, Nottingham Forest have shown interest and their place in the 2025/26 Europa League could tempt Bakwa their way. They currently have not shown interest in meeting the €35m price tag that Leeds are willing to spend.
At Leeds, Bakwa would be competing with new signing Noah Okafor, Daniel James, and Wilfred Gnonto for regular playtime on the right wing. As both Gnonto and Okafor tend to prefer playing off the left wing rather than the right, Dilane Bakwa would likely become the first choice right winger for the Whites.