Former Nottingham Forest defender Anel Ahmedhodzic is being lined up by Chelsea ahead of the January transfer window, according to Expressen.
The centre-back is wanted by the Blues who are willing to part with £6.9 million to sign the Malmo enforcer.
Ahmedhodzic came through the youth ranks at the City Ground but was released in 2019, holding a desire to return to his homeland.
Still only 21 he has developed into one of the country’s standout defenders and is attracting admiring glances from the Premier League.
During the 2020 campaign, he has played 48 times for Malmo, scoring three goals in the process.
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Ahmedhodzic has a contract with Malmo until 2023 but Chelsea’s interest will surely interest the former Forest player.
The Reds took the youngster from Malmo originally in 2016 and he became a star man for the club’s youth ranks.
He excelled at under-18 level and was quickly promoted into the under-23s where he became a mainstay.
Ahmedhodzic played just once for the first-team at Forest. Philippe Montanier handed him a six minute cameo during a 3-1 defeat at Newcastle in December 2016.
But for that one outing though the pathway never seemed clear for the young defender.
He was on the bench eight other teams but remained unused – eventually prompting him to return to his native country.
His decision looks like a good one too.
He has quickly become a first-team regular, despite his tender years and has also collected one Sweden cap and two for Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Ahmedhodzic has now played in a competitive game for Bosnia so is committed to starring for them in the future.
Chelsea signed a plethora of players during the summer but it would seem Frank Lampard wants to do more business.
The Verdict – Were Forest naive in not handing Ahmedhodzic a chance to shine?
This could prove to be one that got away for Nottingham Forest.
The young defender always looked pretty stylish and mature for his age during his appearances for the first-team.
He was extremely close to a regular run in the team under Montanier, although it never materialised.
With that in mind, the player grew somewhat homesick and sought a move back to his home nation.
Had the Reds handed him more of a chance to shine, things could have been different.
Signing for Chelsea would represent a remarkable move for the youngster – and leave Forest wondering what might have been.