Mikael Forssell is close to joining Birmingham City on an extended loan, according to Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri.
With an abundance of strikers in his squad after signing Hernan Crespo and Adrian Mutu, Ranieri is keen to loan out his fringe players.
And like Carlton Cole before him, who has moved to Charlton on loan, Ranieri believes Forssell will benefit from regular first team football at Birmingham, rather than remaining on the bench at Stamford Bridge.
"I think that Mikael is going to Birmingham City on loan, probably for the rest of the season," said Ranieri.
"It's good for him as he can play more often and also good for me as I can watch him very easily."
Forssell has previously enjoyed successful loan spells at Crystal Palace and Borussia Moenchengladbach, where he recovered from a serious injury last season.
The Finn, who is a regular in his national side, had been hoping to secure a regular first team place at Chelsea on his return to England. That, however, was before the multi-million pound investment by Roman Abramovich.
And although Forssell started Chelsea's opening competitive fixture away to MSK Zilina in the Champions League qualifying round, Mutu and Crespo soon arrived to relegate him to being fifth-choice striker.
