Nottingham Forest loanee is making big strides, he's in 91st percentile for line-breaking passes in top league
Oliver Glasner must regret loaning Dilane Bakwa out to Lille as he impresses while Nottingham Forest struggle for a creative spark.
Glasner is under pressure to turn Forest's poor form around right now after they nearly hit the foot of the Premier League table last weekend.
Defeat to Arsenal condemned his side to 19th place, with five points from their first seven games of the campaign.
The Reds are the outright lowest scorers in the top flight right now, with just five goals in those seven games and four matches in which they have failed to get onto the scoresheet.
Glasner allowed French winger Bakwa out on loan towards the end of the summer window, and must be regretting his decision right now.
The 24-year-old is making waves in Ligue 1 and would surely have been a valuable option in the Austrian's squad as they struggle to create chances and put them away right now.
Dilane Bakwa is developing well at Lille as Forest struggle
Bakwa was only able to register two assists in 24 appearances for Forest last season following a £30million move from Strasbourg.
He had shown clear promise in France and in flashes at Forest, yet Glasner let him depart on loan in August, likely because he does not naturally fit his 3-4-2-1 system as a winger by trade.
The Reds boss has used wingers in his formation already this season, however, and must be rueing his decision to let Bakwa develop elsewhere for the season ahead.
Bakwa is in the 88th percentile for big chances created per 90 (0.55) by attacking midfielders and wingers in Ligue 1 so far this season, with two goals and an assist to his name from six appearances.
He is also in the 91st percentile for line-breaking passes per 90 (6.86), 79th percentile for duels won per 90 (6.04), and has also been showing a different side to his game, with 4.12 defensive contributions per 90 landing him in the 88th percentile for players in the same position.
Last time out against Brest, he created two chances, had 93 per cent pass accuracy, took five touches in the opposition box and won four ground duels.
The 24-year-old is arguably the most in-form player contracted to Forest right now, yet Glasner has made the mistake of allowing him to find that form at a different club, and it may factor in to him losing his job soon.
Glasner among bookmakers' favourites to be first PL boss sacked after reveal
Sources have exclusively revealed to Football Insider that Glasner is losing internal support at Forest as they struggle for form.
He is as short as 8/1 to be the first Premier League manager sacked this season, which makes him the fourth-favourite behind Michael Carrick, Pierre Sage and Alvaro Arbeloa.
The decision to loan Bakwa out will not be the main factor that potentially sees him lose his job, but it could well contribute if he continues to shine and Forest still fail in front of goal.