After a busy summer transfer window in terms of revenue, Chelsea are set to continue their spending spree in January with the club keen on Malmo centre-back Anil Ahmed Hodzic.
The west Londoners looked to ease their defensive woes in the summer by bringing in experienced free agent Thiago Silva and Rennes shot-stopper Eduard Mendy, both of whom have proved successful so far.
Thiago Silva is reassuring at the heart of Chelsea’s defense following his summer switch / Visionhaus/Getty Images
But more defensive reinforcements could be on their way, with Swedish news outlet Express reporting that the Blues are monitoring the progress of 21-year-old defender Ahmet Hodzic, once of Nottingham Forest.
The report notes that the English giants are looking to land the talented youngster at centre-back in the next window for around £7.2m, before he is loaned out in the usual fashion of Chelsea.
The Blues brought in free agent Malingsaar – another 21-year-old centre-back – in the summer before loaning him to Porto for the 2020/21 campaign.
Ahmed Hodzic has emerged as a top talent playing for current Swedish Allsvenskan leaders Malmo. The 21-year-old rose through the ranks at the Swedish club before heading to Forest aged 16.
Ahmed Hodzic in Europa League action for Swedish giants Malmo/Ronnie Hartman/Getty Images
However, he made just one appearance for the English club in three years when he returned to Malmö after an impressive loan spell in Denmark with Hobro IK. Ahmed Hodzic has since continued to shine at his boyhood club, making 24 appearances this term, his evolution helping him to two senior caps for the Bosnia and Herzegovina national team after switching allegiance to Sweden.
Should Chelsea pursue Ahmed Hodzic in January, it is understood that a fee in the region of €8m would convince Malmo to sell. However, there is no immediate pressure on the Swedish club to let the 21-year-old leave after extending his contract until December 2023 in April.
Like Saar, Ahmed Hodzic will undoubtedly be seen as a long-term investment for the Blues should he arrive in January.