Nottingham Forest set to miss out on RB Leipzig-bound Johan Bakayoko | OneFootball

Nottingham Forest have been dealt a massive blow in their bid to land a replacement for Anthony Elanga.

The Tricky Trees had set their sights on PSV Eindhoven star Johan Bakayoko. But according to Rik Elfrink, they’re set to miss out on the exciting winger.

Bundesliga side RB Leipzig have reportedly pipped Forest to the Belgian winger, having agreed a deal worth €23 million (£20m) with the Dutch champions.

Leipzig have agreed to pay an initial €20m (£17.3m) with an additional €3m (£2.7m) in performance-related bonuses.

Bakayoko has agreed a five-year deal with the Germans and is scheduled to undergo a medical as early as Wednesday before the transfer is announced on both sides.

The 22-year-old has been on Forest’s radar since the start of the summer, but they stepped up their interest after Elanga’s £55m move to Newcastle United.

Bakayoko was seen as an ideal replacement to fill the void on the right flank thanks to his speed, creativity, and eye for goal.

He was in fine form for the Dutch champions last season, notching 12 goals and three assists in 47 appearances across all competitions.

He recorded 10 goal contributions in 30 Erediivise outings, creating four big chances while averaging 1.2 key passes per 90 minutes.

His performances caught the eye of a host of Premier League clubs, with the likes of Bournemouth and Everton also monitoring his situation at PSV.

The latter duo never acted on their interest, making Forest the front-runners, but the 2024/25 surprise package have now been beaten to the punch by Leipzig.

Forest will now need to shift their attention elsewhere. They have been linked with a move for Olympique Lyon forward Malick Fofana, but the talented winger is also on the radar of Liverpool and Chelsea.

The Tricky Trees have also been linked with Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott and Manchester City’s James McAtee, so they’re not short on alternatives.

However, a move for either of them will cost significantly more than what Leipzig paid to get their hands on Bakayoko.