Nottingham Forest are said to be among a number of sides keeping tabs on Bari forward Walid Cheddira.
The Serie B outfit are reportedly against selling him in January. But with Tottenham Hotspur, Lazio and Napoli also linked, there could yet be a battle for his signature when the transfer window opens.
In their fight for Premier League survival, next month could be crucial for the Reds as head coach Steve Cooper has the chance to make a few key additions. We take a look at Cheddira, one of the most recent players to be linked.
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Career so far
The 24-year-old has worked his way up the ladder of Italian football. He started out in the lower tiers, including playing for Loreto and Sangiustese, before moving to Parma on a three-year deal in 2019.
A succession of loan spells followed, with Cheddira spending time at Arezzo, Lecco and Mantova, before joining Bari last season. It was there that he really seemed to find some form.
The front man played an integral role in last term’s promotion-winning campaign. He found the net six times as the team topped the table and finished eight points clear of their nearest rivals to escape Serie C.
That prompted Bari to make his move permanent during the summer. He left Parma without making a first-team appearance, making the move for a reported 150,000 euros.
Red-hot form
This season, Cheddira has picked up from where he left off with Bari. He has bagged nine goals in 12 league appearances and weighed in with four assists, helping the team climb to third in the Serie B table.
His ruthlessness in front of goal means he is currently top goalscorer for the division. He has three more than his nearest challenger, despite the league continuing while he is on duty with Morocco at the Qatar World Cup.
International recognition
Born in Italy to Moroccan parents, Cheddira made his debut for his country earlier this year. He was a substitute in friendlies against Chile and Paraguay in the build-up to the World Cup, but remained on the bench in Morocco’s three group games in Qatar.
After being called up to the squad for the tournament, the striker posted a message on social media saying: “Dreams Come True! I am proud, excited, delighted and honored to represent my nation in the most prestigious competition of all. I am very confident in the path we are going to undertake. We will do our best for our country!”
Cheddira’s former coach at Mantova, Emanuele Troise, told Calciomercato (via HITC): “He is always a cheerful boy. He has a positive and sunny character.
“To this day, I still think it’s an incredible story. A fairy tale. If two years ago someone had told me that he would go to the World Cup in Qatar, I would have called him crazy!”
Transfer talk
The forward is said to have a £7 million price tag on his head. However, according to Corriere dello Sport, via HITC, Bari have “no intention” of letting Cheddira go in January.
“Many Serie A clubs are (showing interest),” Bari president Luigi de Laurentiis told Mediaset, in HITC’s translated interview. “We are happy with his huge explosion (in form).”
And the player’s agent, Bruno di Napoli, told Radio Punto Nuovo: “Interest from Serie A? It is still early.
“The boy is very happy in Bari. He has a contract here until 2025.”
What transfer business should Forest do in January? Have your say in the comments below
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