Nottingham Forest are joining Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur in pursuit of Bari striker Walid Cheddira with Gianluca di Marzio reporting that the Morocco international could cost around £6 million.
Italy’s second tier has proven to be rather fertile ground for exciting striking talent in recent times.
The 6ft 7ins Lorenzo Lucca, now of Ajax, exploded onto the scene as the free-scoring tower of Pisa in Serie B. Gianluca Scamacca, meanwhile, joined West Ham for £30 million just two years after a loan spell at Ascoli.
Cheddira could soon be following in their footsteps.
With nine goals in just 12 games, the late-blooming poacher is currently the top scorer in Serie B. His tally in all competitions stands at an impressive 14.
His price-tag, meanwhile, has soared from £130,000 to around £6 million in just a few months; Gianluca di Marzio reporting Cheddira is likely to become Bari’s biggest export since a young Leonardo Bonucci joined Juventus over a decade ago.
Nottingham Forest, Tottenham, Lazio and Napoli like Morocco striker Walid Cheddira
Lazio, Sporting Lisbon, Nottingham Forest and runaway Serie A leaders Napoli are just four of the clubs keeping tabs on the journeyman powerhouse. Tottenham Hotspur, meanwhile, are also watching closely, via Serie B News in October.
Cheddira is a name that will be familiar to Spurs’ former Juventus director Fabio Paratici. He is also the type of all-action, 6ft-something centre-forward who tends to thrive in an Antonio Conte team; a la Diego Costa and Romelu Lukaku. Cheddira is likely viewed by Spurs as someone capable of providing back-up to the talismanic Harry Kane in North London.
Only Wolves, meanwhile, have scored fewer goals than Nottingham Forest’s 11 so far in 2022/23. Forest have already brought in Gustavo Scarpa from Palmeiras ahead of January. The Brazilian league’s Player of the Year is joining on a free from Palmeiras.
Cheddira, interestingly, is part of the Morocco side who finished top of their group at the Qatar World Cup. The striker is yet to make an appearance in the tournament for Walid Regragui’s side, however. Morocco will take on Spain next week for a spot in the quarter-finals.
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