Hull City have made contact with Nottingham Forest about taking Dilane Bakwa on loan, with talks taking place over the weekend.
The winger’s position at the City Ground looks uncertain heading into the new Premier League season. Dilane Bakwa has been involved in Forest’s pre-season, but he is reportedly out of favour under new head coach Oliver Glasner and has been given permission to look at his options.
Bakwa facing another uncertain spell at Nottingham Forest
It hasn’t been an easy first year for Dilane Bakwa in a Forest shirt.
The club spent around £30m to bring him over from Strasbourg last summer, making the 23-year-old one of their major additions. Things haven’t really gone to plan since then.
Bakwa found it difficult to get a regular run in the team. He made only 14 Premier League appearances last season with just six of those were starts.
That’s a long way from the kind of involvement you’d expect from a player who cost Forest £30m.
He has at least had some involvement in pre-season. Bakwa came off the bench in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Brest at the City Ground, so it’s not as though he’s been completely removed from the first-team picture.
But his longer-term future is another matter.
Nottingham Forest are not looking to sell him after just one season after spending a massive fee for him. Bakwa signed a five-year contract when he arrived, and the amount spent on him also makes a permanent exit difficult as Forest would look to recoup maximum of their investment.
A loan deal for Dilane Bakwa makes sense. Nottingham Forest are prepared to let him leave on a loan, with a season-long move now on the table with Hull.
Hull hoping to give Dilane Bakwa regular football
Reports say the Championship side have opened talks with Forest and are interested in taking Bakwa for the season. Ben Jacobs have also reported that the Tigers are targeting a loan deal.
For Bakwa, it could offer a chance to get the regular football that proved hard to find last season.
Forest’s own season is now just days away. Leeds United are due at the City Ground on Saturday for the opening game of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign.
With that in mind, a decision on Bakwa’s future may not be far away.
There doesn’t appear to be any suggestion that Forest want to cut ties with the winger permanently. The plan seems much simpler. Give him a chance to play, see how he develops, and revisit the situation later.
Hull’s interest could give Bakwa exactly that opportunity.
For now, though, talks are still ongoing. A move isn’t done yet, but Hull have clearly made their interest known and Nottingham Forest appear willing to consider a loan.
