Nottingham Forest transfer target Festy Ebosele is reportedly undergoing a medical with Italian side Udinese.
The Reds were linked with a move for the Derby County winger and were said to have submitted a £500,000 bid for the 19 year-old before the transfer window shut late on Monday night.
Ebosele remained at the cash-strapped Rams, who are facing liquidation, though, but his status as a player out of contract in the summer means he can talk to overseas clubs and sign a pre-contract agreement that begins at the end of the season.
Other clubs on the continent have been credited with an interest in the Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, who is developing into a superb player under the guidance of Rams boss Wayne Rooney.
German quartet Stuttgart, Wolfsburg, Freiburg and Mainz were said to be keen on the player but Udinese look to have beaten off competition to add a second Ireland young international after clinching the arrival of Ebosele's compatriot James Abankwah this week.
According to Sky Sports Italy journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, Udinese are putting Ebosele through his paces.
And Reds fans have wasted no time in having their say, with one writing on social media: "You can't blame those players whose contracts are running down to try and sort their future out as soon as possible."
"You couldn’t write this," another said, while a third fan added: "Now Derby won't get a penny for him."
Another added: "He's off in the summer for nothing," while a fifth Forest supporter said: "I've seen enough of him this season to think he'll make it at the top level if steered correctly."
Ebosele has made 20 Championship appearances this season, scoring one goal and setting up another.
Rooney previously said that no players would be leaving the club, but in Ebosele's case he would still be onboard for the rest of the season before a move in the summer.
