Erik ten Hag loses the battle for Johan Bakayoko as Jurgen Klopp's RB Leipzig agree deal with Bayer Leverkusen, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth target

RB Leipzig have sprinted ahead in the race to sign PSV's Johan Bakayoko with the winger left out of his team's training camp as transfer nears.

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  • reached verbal agreement with Bakayoko
  • Overtake Leverkusen as winger’s preferred destination
  • English clubs also keeping tabs on PSV star

Erik ten Hag loses the battle for Johan Bakayoko as Jurgen Klopp's RB Leipzig agree deal with Bayer Leverkusen, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth targetErik ten Hag loses the battle for Johan Bakayoko as Jurgen Klopp's RB Leipzig agree deal with Bayer Leverkusen, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth targetErik ten Hag loses the battle for Johan Bakayoko as Jurgen Klopp's RB Leipzig agree deal with Bayer Leverkusen, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth target

According to Sky Sport Leipzig have reached a verbal agreement with the player’s camp. This comes as a huge blow for their competitors, Leverkusen, who looked like they were about to sign the Belgian alongside PSV co-star Malik Tillman. With one year remaining on his PSV contract, the winger is projected to cost around €20 million (£17m/$23m). Leipzig are advancing quickly and want to secure the deal quickly.

Leipzig bring a lot more to the table for Bakayoko than their domestic rivals. The Red Bull-owned club are looking to outmanoeuvre Bayer and tempt the Belgian winger with the option of reuniting with his former PSV team-mate Xavi Simons. This could be a huge blow for and , who have been keeping tabs on the 22-year-old.

Leverkusen were plotting to make a double swoop from PSV, having already signed Tillman until 2030. The winger, who is on the wishlist of many clubs, has had an underwhelming season in the last season. This has prompted the winger to switch clubs, as he believes his growth and development has stalled in the Netherlands.

Leipzig players are also attracting a lot of interest, with Al-Hilal interested in signing Benjamin Sesko while could make a bid to sign Simons after their failed pursuit of Florian Wirtz and Nico Williams. Leipzig, who have Jurgen Klopp in position as head of global soccer at Red Bull, could part ways with the Slovenian striker and have put a price tag of €88m (£77m/$104m) on the forward.