Lille are close to signing French-Congolese winger Dilane Bakwa on loan from Nottingham Forest, with the 23-year-old having chosen the Ligue 1 club ahead of interest from Hull City.
Bakwa has selected Lille’s project after considering the options available to him, according to journalist Ben Jacobs. He has been given permission by Nottingham Forest to formalise a move to northern France.
Hull City, known as the Tigers, had also been pursuing the former Girondins de Bordeaux player. The Championship club had contacted Nottingham Forest to discuss the conditions of a possible transfer, but Bakwa ultimately decided that Lille offered the preferred next step in his career.
The proposed loan would see Bakwa return to familiar surroundings in French football. The move is also expected to give him the opportunity to build momentum again and secure more regular playing time after arriving in England from Strasbourg.
At Lille, Bakwa could provide pace and direct running from the wide areas. His ability to take on defenders and make a difference on the flanks is viewed as a potential asset for the Ligue 1 side as he looks to continue his development.
Bakwa joined Nottingham Forest following his spell at Strasbourg and remains under contract with the Premier League club until June 2030. The loan to Lille would represent another stage in his career while allowing him to seek greater consistency and a stronger run of appearances.
His estimated market value is €28m. Bakwa is reported to earn an annual salary of €4,221,857 at Nottingham Forest, equivalent to 2,744,207,050 FCFA.
The deal comes as Nottingham Forest prepare to face Leeds United in the second round of the EFL Cup. The match is listed with Nottingham Forest at odds of 2.05 to win, while a draw is priced at 3.20 and a Leeds United victory at 3.10 by betting company 1xbet.
Bakwa’s decision means Lille have moved ahead of Hull City in the race for his signature, with the player now expected to continue his career in Ligue 1 if the loan agreement is completed.