Nottingham Forest enter talks to sign 'brilliant' Ernest Poku

Nottingham Forest have reportedly entered into talks for the signing of Bayer Leverkusen winger Ernest Poku.

The 22-year-old only arrived in the Bundesliga last summer but is reportedly available for just £21million.

The winger scored five goals and provided five assists in his debut Bundesliga campaign, and can play across the front line as well as deeper.

Poku may well be a candidate to play as one of Oliver Glasner's wing-backs, and represents a promising market opportunity if he can be signed for such a bargain fee.

Nottingham Forest have sold Elliot Anderson this summer in a record £116million deal to Manchester City, and are keen to spread the money throughout the squad.

Negotiations are ongoing for the potential signing of Lucas Bergvall, while Ousmane Diomande is on the verge of joining.

Nottingham Forest in talks to sign Ernest Poku

Poku joined Bayer Leverkusen last summer from AZ Alkmaar, signing in a deal worth around £8.5m.

The winger had made his breakthrough to the senior team in the 2023-24 season, scoring 12 goals in the youth league before he was promoted.

Despite a campaign that saw him score just twice and assist three times in the 2024-25 season, Bayer Leverkusen liked what they saw.

The move appealed to Poku, too. He would later admit that he thought playing under a Dutch manager - Erik ten Hag - would be the perfect way to start his career outside of the Netherlands.

However, the former Manchester United boss was sacked just three weeks later and replaced by Kasper Hjulmand.

With Carles Martinez now in charge and Afonso Moreira having arrived, Leverkusen are reportedly willing to sell Poku,

Nottingham Forest are among several Premier League teams interested, according to BILD, with Glasner reportedly "impressed" by his first season in Germany.

Poku is 'brilliant'

Bayer Leverkusen's decision to part ways with Poku after just one season is a surprise, with the youngster having produced strong numbers.

The winger created 1.52 chances, completed 1.63 dribbles, made 3.74 recoveries and 1.40 tackles per 90.

"Ernest Poku is a brilliant winger who can give us something special up front with his pace and dribbling ability," said Simon Rolfes, sporting director, after securing the deal for the 22-year-old.

"He is tricky and assertive and with his tempo and his dynamism."