Bakwa Undergoes Medical as Sunderland Target Nears £34.7m Forest Switch

Sunderland target Dilane Bakwa is about to sign with Premier League rivals Nottingham Forest, it is said.

Black Cats are said to be scouting for attacking reinforcements during the closing hours of the summer window, with a deal for Ajax striker Brian Brobbey said to be looming.

Whether or not Kristjaan Speakman and his recruitment staff deem it worthwhile to go after a late deal at a winger is yet to come, but it is of interest that Patrick Roberts – a stalwart of Sunderland’s promotion winning season last year – is said to be closing a deal with Championship club Birmingham City, according to Sky Sports.

Should Sunderland pursue a likely replacement for Roberts, though, it will largely come as a surprise if it is Bakwa. Last week, a local Leeds Live update had placed Sunderland at the table for the signature of the RC Strasbourg superstar.

It was said thus in their report: “Leeds [United] are weighing up a few alternatives, and one of those is Dilane Bakwa. However, sources close to Strasbourg chart that Sunderland and Nottingham Forest are further along the road with their transfer interest – and it is debatable whether or not he is interested in moving to Elland Road. It was suggested that much of the speculation with Leeds is being overstated by agents, although the Whites do have interest. Strasbourg are waiting €35 million (around £30m).”

But now it is known that Forest are closing in on a deal for the 23-year-old player. It is said that a deal worth over £34.7 million is nearly agreed and finalised and already the player has undergone the medical at Nottingham.

What is the update on Sunderland’s own transfer proposals?

At the same time, Sunderland are hot on the heels of RB Leipzig defender Lutsharel Geertruida. Versatile both at full-back and at centre-half, the Dutch internationalsit was also rumored of a move to Marseille recently, but now we are hearing through Sky Sports Germany that Marseille’s move has been snatched at the very last moment by the Black Cats.

They have reportedly agreed individual terms with Geertruida and are concluding a deal with Leipzig. Sunderland will pay an initial loan fee of roughly £2.1million, with the possibility of a buy next summer for roughly £17million and assuming full wages of the tall 25-year-old center back. It is reported that Geertruida is “very excited” at the prospect of playing in the Premier League and has been permitted to have his medical before concluding the move.

Since the Bundesliga window shuts at 8pm German time (7pm UK), Sunderland have plenty of time to get the move of Geertruida completed before tonight’s cut-off. The club are also said to be agreeing a move to sign Ajax front-man Brobbey on a full contract, and new loan recruit Marc Guiu could yet head back to parent club Chelsea after the injury sustained by Liam Delap at the weekend.