Nottingham Forest are exploring a move for Bayer Leverkusen winger Ernest Poku, with the Premier League club monitoring a potential deal worth at least €25m (£21m), according to reports in Germany.
The 22-year-old, who represents Netherlands at Under-21 level and is of Ghanaian origin, is understood to be available this summer, with Leverkusen ready to sanction his departure if their valuation is met.
German newspaper Kicker reported earlier this month that Leverkusen are prepared to facilitate Poku’s exit provided an offer of €25m or more arrives. BILD now claims that Forest are among the clubs showing serious interest.
Forest linked after major midfield sale
Nottingham Forest are the only club named specifically in the latest BILD report, although several Premier League sides are said to be tracking the winger.
Forest are in a position to invest after selling midfielder Elliot Anderson to Manchester City for €135m, giving the club substantial financial room to manoeuvre in the current transfer window.
Olivier Glasner, who took charge at the City Ground this summer, is reported to be an admirer of Poku’s performances in his debut Bundesliga campaign and is looking to strengthen his attacking options.
Mixed first season at Leverkusen
Leverkusen signed Poku in mid-2025 from AZ Alkmaar for around €10m, bringing in the pacey wide player to add depth and dynamism to their forward line. At the time of his arrival, Erik ten Hag was still in charge of the German club.
Ten Hag, however, was dismissed just a few weeks later, leaving Poku to adjust to a change of management shortly after his move. Despite that disruption, he produced a promising first half of the season, earning regular minutes and catching the eye with his speed on the flank.
Following the winter break his role diminished significantly, with the Dutch youth international spending much of the second half of the campaign on the bench.
Afonso Moreira arrival pushes Poku towards exit
Poku’s prospects at Leverkusen have been further complicated by the signing of winger Afonso Moreira, who has strengthened competition in wide areas.
With Moreira’s arrival pushing Poku down the pecking order, Leverkusen are now open to parting with the former AZ Alkmaar player for the right price.
For Forest, the situation presents an opportunity to reinvest some of the Anderson fee in a young, quick, Bundesliga-tested winger, while Leverkusen stand to make a significant profit on a player they signed for about €10m a year earlier.
No formal bid from Nottingham Forest has been reported, and neither club has publicly commented on the talks, but Poku’s future appears increasingly likely to lie away from Leverkusen as Premier League interest intensifies.
