Rennes have already added seven players this summer, including Adrien Thomasson, Issa Soumaré, Gonçalo Oliveira, Nicolas Lemaître, Eliezer Mayenda, Bryan Reynolds and Charlie Cresswell. Despite these reinforcements, the club is still targeting a new winger before the transfer window shuts.
Two attacking options have moved to the top of Rennes’ shortlist in recent days. Alongside Terrier, whose potential return remains under discussion, Dilane Bakwa has re-emerged as a serious consideration. The shift in emphasis was highlighted by Rennes insider Jonathan35001 on social media. “For the past few days, people have been talking to me again about Dilane Bakwa,” the insider said.
Bakwa joined Nottingham Forest from RC Strasbourg in summer 2025 for a reported €35 million fee. His first season in England has been uneven. After a convincing Ligue 1 campaign with Strasbourg in 2024-25, where he scored six goals and provided nine assists, Bakwa has struggled to replicate that form in the Premier League. He has featured in just 14 league matches, accumulating 552 minutes of play and two assists, with additional appearances in European competitions.
Now aged 23, Bakwa is out of contract with Nottingham Forest until June 2030. The winger may be seeking more regular game time, less than a year after his move to England.
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Rennes’ summer recruitment began with a clear plan to bolster their attacking options. The arrivals of Thomasson, Soumaré, Oliveira, Lemaître, Mayenda, Reynolds and Cresswell were intended to strengthen depth and competition across midfield and defense. The club’s continued search for a winger suggests that these additions have not fully addressed their needs in wide areas.
Among the names previously linked with Rennes this summer were Eliesse Ben Seghir of AS Monaco, Mohamed Amoura of Wolfsburg, Zuriko Davitashvili of AS Saint-Étienne and Bakwa of Nottingham Forest. Of these, Terrier and Bakwa are now the two candidates receiving the most serious attention.
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The insider’s social media post on August 7, 2026, underlined the renewed interest in Bakwa. The timing coincides with the final phase of the transfer window, when clubs often reassess options after initial approaches stall. Rennes’ willingness to pursue Bakwa reflects both the urgency of their need and the competitive nature of the winger market.
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For Bakwa, the situation presents a potential turning point. After a difficult adaptation to the Premier League, a move back to France could offer the stability and playing time he has lacked in England. His contract with Nottingham Forest runs until 2030, but the desire for more consistent minutes may prompt a change of scenery.
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The contrast between Bakwa’s Ligue 1 success and his Premier League struggles highlights the challenges facing forwards in top-flight English football. His six goals and nine assists in France’s top division stand in stark contrast to his limited impact in England, where he has managed just two assists in league play.
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Rennes’ dual-track approach—pursuing both Terrier and Bakwa—shows the club’s determination to secure the right profile before the window closes. Whether the outcome is a reunion with Terrier or a new partnership with Bakwa, the final days of the transfer window will decide Rennes’ attacking options for the season ahead.
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« For the past few days, people have been talking to me again about Dilane Bakwa » — Jonathan35001, Rennes insider, August 7, 2026,