Nottingham Forest and Tottenham in transfer battle for…

Nottingham Forest and Tottenham in transfer battle for World Cup star preparing for Spain

Nottingham Forest are reportedly one of several sides across Europe with an interest in Morocco international Walid Cheddira.

The centre-forward has remained an unused substitute in each of the Atlas Lions' three games en route to finishing ahead of Belgium and Croatia atop Group F to tee up a round of 16 tie against Spain. He did, though, feature twice as a second-half substitute in a pair of pre-tournament friendlies against South American sides Chile and Paraguay to debut for the national team back in September.

Born in Italy to Moroccan parents, Cheddira, 24, plays for Bari in Serie B - the Italian second division - and is currently the top goalscorer at that level after nine goals in 12 appearances before joining up with the national team, remaining three goals clear of the nearest challenger despite the league continuing in his absence. The striker has also assisted a further four goals for teammates, a tally only bettered by two other players in the second tier.

Cheddira only joined the side permanently from Parma in the summer after scoring six goals on loan by the Adriatic Sea during the team's promotion-winning season in Serie C last term when they topped the table eight points clear of their closest contenders. Bari paid just €‎150,000 to complete that transfer, and GianlucaDiMarizo.com, via HITC, claims that five months on his price tag has inflated to as high as £6 million.

Seire A sides Lazio and Napoli have been credited with an interest in the player, the reports add, with Libson-based outfit Sporting also 'liking' the player alongside Forest. Their Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur were also linked in late October via SerieBNews.com, but any transfer negotiations are reported to be postponed until the end of the season.