NOTTINGHAM FOREST CLOSES IN ON MAJOR SIGNING UNDER GLASNER AND IT COULD CHANGE LEEDS UNITED ENTIRE SUMMER

Nottingham Forest are continuing to make their intentions clear under new head coach Oliver Glasner, and their latest transfer push could have consequences far beyond the City Ground.

With the new Premier League season approaching, Forest have wasted little time reshaping their squad. The arrival of Glasner has brought a fresh sense of direction to the club, while the departure of Elliot Anderson to Manchester City for a reported British-record fee of around £116 million has given Forest significant room to strengthen.

And now, one particular move is threatening to become a major talking point for Leeds United.

Forest have been strongly linked with Bayer Leverkusen winger Ernest Poku, with reports claiming that the Premier League club have opened talks over a possible deal. The Dutch attacker has emerged as one of the names Glasner’s recruitment team are considering as they look to add more pace and attacking versatility to the squad.

The reported asking price makes the situation even more interesting.

BILD previously reported that Leverkusen would be prepared to consider selling Poku for around €25 million, while other reports have placed the potential fee in a similar region. Forest’s financial position means they could potentially make such a move without allowing the deal to derail their wider transfer plans.

For Leeds, however, this is where things become particularly intriguing.

The Whites are preparing for their return to the Premier League and have already been active in the transfer market. Their opening fixture is scheduled against Nottingham Forest on August 22, meaning any major addition made by Glasner’s side could immediately become relevant to Leeds.

Imagine Forest completing the signing of a rapid, versatile attacker just days before that meeting.

It would immediately give Glasner another attacking weapon to work with and could force Leeds to rethink how they approach the opening weeks of the campaign.

Poku’s appeal is obvious. He can operate in several attacking positions and has been praised for his pace, dribbling ability and versatility. Reports from earlier in the summer suggested he registered five goals and eight assists across 45 appearances for Leverkusen last season.

Those numbers may not immediately scream superstar, but that is precisely why this could be an intriguing Glasner signing.

The Forest manager has already shown that he values players capable of fitting into a demanding tactical structure. His first signing at Forest was Austrian midfielder Xaver Schlager, a player he previously worked with at Wolfsburg. Schlager joined on a two-year contract after leaving RB Leipzig.

Forest have since continued to strengthen.

Ousmane Diomande has now arrived from Sporting, with the centre-back signing a four-year contract with an option for another year. The move represents another significant statement from Forest as they attempt to build a squad capable of competing at a higher level under Glasner.

That means the potential arrival of Poku would not be an isolated move.

It would form part of a much bigger rebuild.

Glasner has already spoken about wanting to take Forest to the “next level”, and the club’s transfer activity suggests that ambition is being backed in the market.

For Leeds, the timing could hardly be more uncomfortable.

The two clubs are about to meet in the Premier League, and Leeds will be eager to establish themselves after returning to the top flight. Facing a Forest side that is undergoing a major tactical and personnel transformation could be a completely different challenge from the one Leeds might have expected several weeks ago.

There is also another potential consequence.

If Forest secure Poku, it could accelerate movement elsewhere in the Premier League transfer market. Adding another wide attacker would increase competition within Glasner’s squad, potentially influencing the futures of existing Forest forwards.

That could create a chain reaction.

And in a transfer window where one move can suddenly unlock several others, Leeds cannot afford to ignore what is happening at the City Ground.

Forest’s recruitment strategy is particularly fascinating because of the financial boost created by Anderson’s departure. The midfielder became one of the biggest sales in the club’s history after completing his move to Manchester City.

Rather than simply replacing Anderson with one player, Forest appear intent on spreading that money across several positions.

Schlager adds experience and familiarity.

Diomande strengthens the defence.

And Poku would potentially inject speed and unpredictability into the attack.

That combination could make Forest one of the more interesting teams to watch during the opening months of the season.

For Leeds, meanwhile, it creates a fascinating subplot before the campaign has even properly begun.

The Whites are not simply preparing for another Premier League season. They are preparing to face a Forest team with a new manager, new tactical ideas and potentially several new players.

And if Poku becomes the next piece of Glasner’s project, Leeds could be among the first clubs to discover just how dangerous the new-look Forest can be.

Of course, it is important to stress that the Poku move has been reported as a developing transfer situation rather than a completed deal. Earlier reports indicated that Forest had entered talks, while Leverkusen were willing to consider his departure.

There is therefore still work to do before the winger can be described as a Forest player.

But that uncertainty is exactly what makes the story so interesting.

Forest have already demonstrated that they are serious about backing Glasner.

The manager has a clear tactical identity, the club has considerable financial resources following Anderson’s departure, and the recent arrival of Diomande shows that major additions are not merely being discussed they are being completed.

If Poku follows, Glasner’s Forest project suddenly looks even more intriguing.

And Leeds United may have to take notice.

The summer could already be changing shape for the Whites, because Forest’s next move could affect the competitive landscape around them particularly with the two clubs set to collide on the opening weekend.

One thing is certain: Forest are no longer quietly preparing for the new season.

Under Glasner, they are making noise.

And if Ernest Poku becomes the latest major addition, Leeds United may discover very quickly that the team waiting for them is not the same Nottingham Forest they expected to face.