Bristol City are interested in signing Iranian international left-back Milad Mohammadi but face competition from Celtic and Fulham as well as a number of clubs outside Britain.
Mohammadi is out of contract at Russian Premier League side Akhmat Grozny this summer and Football Insider claims he has been a target for Celtic over the last two transfer windows to replace Emilio Izaguirre as competition for first-choice Kieran Tierney.
Bristol Live can confirm City are also strongly interested in the 25-year-old but are not alone in coveting Mohammadi whose status as a free agent makes him an attractive proposition for clubs all over Europe.
Mohammadi fits the profile of what Johnson wants from his full-backs as the Iranian is known as much for his attacking energy as he is for his defensive work and is flexible enough to operate both as a left-back and left wing-back, much like Jay Dasilva and Lloyd Kelly .
Lee Johnson's long-term vision for Kelly is for him to operate as a centre-back which means, even if Dasilva's loan from Chelsea is made into a permanent deal this summer as planned, the Robins could still be on the lookout for another left-back.
A very direct runner, Mohammadi's primary attacking attributes lie in his willingness to isolate and take on players 1v1 and his crossing. He is also a commited and energetic defender with his speed over short distances making
In 24 appearances for ninth-placed Akhmat Grozny this season, he averages 1.1 key passes per 90 minutes (a pass directly leading to a shot) which exceeds Kelly's 0.4 and is the same as what Dasilva has averaged for City.
His 1.4 successful dribbles per 90 minutes is only marginally less than Dasilva's 1.6 and, again, more than Kelly who is averaging 1.2 this season.
He has 28 caps for his country and earned notorioty during the 2018 World Cup when in the final minute of a group stage game against Spain he unsuccessfully attempted a throw-in after completing a forward roll.
Mohammadi moved to Akhmat Grozny in 2016 after starting his professional career with Rah Ahan in Iran and has been a regular and consistent performer in the Russian Premier League.
