Fulham manager Roy Hodgson was spotted watching a match between Lillestrøm and Rosenborg in the Norwegian Tippeliga this Sunday evening. The former Viking and Finland gaffer already has two Norwegians on his books, and could well be looking to spend a chuck of his summer transfer-kitty in the Norwegian market. Hodgson was seen sitting next to Tore Pedersen, a Norwegian football agent who helped facilitate Tarik Elyounoussi’s transfer from Fredrikstad to Heerenveen last season.
The most likely transfer target is Rosenborg midfielder Per Ciljan Skjelbred. The 21 year-old has been linked with several Premier League clubs in the past, with Arsenal, Tottenham and Newcastle all reported to have shown an interest. However, the presence of fellow Norwegians Erik Nevland and Brede Hangeland as well as the increased possibility of weekly first team football could give Fulham a significant advantage in the battle for Skjelbred’s signature.
Another name that could well be on Hodgson’s notepad is Marek Sapara. The Slovakian playmaker has been consistently excellent for Rosenborg both in the Tippeliga and in the Champions League, and is reportedly keen on moving abroad. Known for his vision and pin-point set pieces, Sapara would certainly fit into Hodgson’s philosophy of attractive football, and the 26 year-old is also thought to have the robustness required to play in the Premiership.
Norwegian media on the other hand are speculating that Hodgson was mainly looking at defenders, with Rosenborg’s Vadim Demidov and Arsenal’s Håvard Nordtveit, on loan at Lillestrøm, mentioned as possible targets.
April 26th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
What about Nevlands return to Viking?
And do you think that RBK deserved 2-1 today?
April 27th, 2009 at 1:31 am
Your guess is as good as mine regarding Nevland, to be honest. Hodgson would like to keep him I’m sure, he’s a good player and a terrific professional, and I’m sure from Nevland’s point of view a few more seasons on Premier League-wages doesn’t sound so bad.. Obviously Viking will be keeping tabs on him and swoop in the minute he wants to leave, but it would surprise me if something was to come of it..
RBK were the better team for me and as such deserved to win, even if Lillestrøm were unlucky with the decision for what would have been their second goal..
April 27th, 2009 at 8:23 am
My guess is that Hodgson (or Hodari = a hot dog as we call him in Finland) was just too lazy to travel to Kristiansand to watch Tromsö. My little birds are telling me that he wants Tore Reginiussen and Joel Lindpere. All this is naturally top secret so do not tell anyone.
April 27th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Well, we know he fancies Reginiussen, but Lindpere? Seriously?
April 27th, 2009 at 11:48 am
How serious can a rumour get.. naturally it will not happen, I just wanted to record that I said it first in case (1/1000) it happens.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
As far as rumours go, I think a rather more credible one would be agent Tore Pedersen’s protegé Alexander Tettey, as his agent was sitting next to the Fulham manager for the game.
Indeed, it could seem like Tettey himself was aware of this, as he produced more hopeless first touches in this game alone than he did in the first five games.
April 27th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Ah! I was trying to think of what Rosenborg-player Pedersen represents, Tettey it is. Good knowledge there.
Maybe he’d be a good fit for the EPL? He’s certainly got the athleticism.. I worry about his technique though, but you can imagine him running around next to Danny Murphy kicking people in the shin..