Sunderland and Nottingham Forest vying to sign the ‘fastest player at the U21 Euros’
Sunderland and Nottingham Forest appear to be vying for one of German football’s quickest rising young attackers, with Bayer Leverkusen winger Ernest Poku attracting growing attention after an impressive first season in the Bundesliga.
Poku has taken a steady but impressive route to the top.
Born in Hamburg before growing up in the Netherlands, he developed through AZ Alkmaar’s academy after spells with SV Robinhood and FC Amsterdam.
His explosive pace quickly caught the eye, earning him a breakthrough into AZ’s first team before establishing himself in both the Eredivisie and in Europe.
Leverkusen moved decisively to sign him last summer, believing they had secured one of Dutch football’s brightest young wingers, and the move has already paid dividends.
Poku adapted quickly to life in Germany, finishing his debut season with six goals and 10 assists in 49 appearances across all competitions.
Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes described him as a “tricky” winger when the club completed his signing, highlighting exactly the qualities that have made him such an exciting prospect.
Those attributes were on display throughout the campaign as Poku regularly stretched defences and created chances from wide positions.
His reputation had already been enhanced during last summer’s Under-21 European Championship.
Poku scored twice as the Netherlands reached the semi-finals and consistently caused problems with his pace. Journalist Ronan Murphy even labelled him the ‘fastest player at the U21 Euros’ period, while UEFA’s tracking data backed that up by recording him as the quickest player at the finals with a top sprint speed of 35.3 km/h.
Those qualities make him an intriguing option for the Premier League.
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Football FanCast’s Verdict |
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Credibility |
This update comes from Sebastien Vidal, who has developed a growing reputation for reporting on transfer stories across France and wider European football. While he is not generally considered among the very top tier of transfer journalists, several of his exclusives have later been confirmed by larger outlets. |
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Finances |
Leverkusen only signed Poku from AZ Alkmaar last summer on a contract until 2030, putting them in a strong negotiating position. Following an excellent debut season, his value has risen considerably, meaning Sunderland or Forest would almost certainly have to submit a substantial offer to begin serious negotiations. |
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Insight |
Poku is a fearless winger whose biggest strengths are his acceleration, dribbling and directness. He enjoys isolating full-backs, attacking space behind and creating opportunities for teammates. His decision-making in the final third has improved significantly, while his work rate without the ball continues to impress coaches. |
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Impact |
Poku would add genuine pace and unpredictability to either Sunderland or Forest, and his age means there is still significant room for development. If his progress continues, he has all the attributes to become a major Premier League success. |
Comfortable on either flank and through the middle, the 22-year-old still has plenty of room to develop, making him the type of player clubs can build around.
Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest battle for Bayer Leverkusen winger Ernest Poku
According to journalist Sébastien Vidal, Sunderland are now looking to bring the Dutch winger to England.
The Black Cats want to strengthen their attacking options with Poku but will apparently have to overcome competition from Forest. Both clubs are said to be interested following his impressive first campaign at Leverkusen.
Sunderland are looking to add more creativity and pace as they prepare for another demanding Premier League campaign, while Forest continue targeting young players capable of improving under Oliver Glasner and increasing in value over time.
Negotiating with Leverkusen, however, is unlikely to be straightforward.
After seeing him settle so quickly and develop into an important member of the squad, Leverkusen have little reason to entertain offers unless a big offer arrives.
That puts the German club firmly in control of the situation.
Even so, interest from two ambitious Premier League clubs demonstrates how highly Poku is now regarded. If either Sunderland or Forest eventually succeed in striking a deal, they would be signing one of Europe’s most exciting young wide players.
