Moyes coy over Forren reports

Lyndon Lloyd , 27 November, 10comments | Jump to most recent

David Moyes attempted to play down reports today that Everton are close to a deal to bring Vegard Forren to the Premier League.

It was suggested on Norwegian television yesterday evening that the defender was due on Merseyside this week to undergo a medical and, presumably, discuss personal terms ahead of a proposed switch from Molde in January.

Moyes, however, was typically non-committal, preferring not to discuss another club's player, although he did confirm that he and assistant Steve Round have visited Molde to watch Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's champions in action.

"I went to see Molde. It's a lovely place to go at this time of year," he quipped.

"We went to watch the game and I'd never ever talk about players. It would be wrong to do so but we went to take the game in and I've got to say we quite enjoyed it. We got treated fantastically well by the football club - the hospitality was fabulous.

He concluded by saying that [the speculation about Forren is] not wrong but in the same breath it's not right either.

That would seem to be a tacit acknowledgement of his interest in the player (which Solskjaer himself has confirmed) but a refusal to be drawn on whether the player will be flying in for talks any time soon.

Quotes or other material sourced from Click Liverpool

Reader Comments (10)

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Shane Corcoran
1 Posted 27/11/2012 at 18:56:39

He's pretty consistent with this approach, except in Pienaar's case.

Gerry Morrison
2 Posted 27/11/2012 at 19:32:30

What position exactly does this fella usually play?

Jamie Sweet
3 Posted 27/11/2012 at 19:58:04

Centre-back, I believe, Gerry... and left-footed too, which is the main reason I think this story has legs... Moyes loves a bit of a left-foot right-foot combo in the centre of defence.

Brian Murray
4 Posted 27/11/2012 at 20:04:41

A new keeper wouldn't go amiss either, Davey. :)

Martin Scott
5 Posted 27/11/2012 at 14:12:17

He looks far too much like Stefan Rehn for me.

Thor Sørensen
6 Posted 28/11/2012 at 06:31:35

He's a central defender. Is he good enough to play in the Premier League? I don't know. In the last couple of seasons I've seen him play maybe 15 times, and I still don't know.

He's a type of player with no strengths, yet no weaknesses, if that makes sense to anyone.

Not particularly quick, strong, tall, neither not particularly slow, weak etc.

He's not very good at anything, and not bad at anything either. He's played in Norwegian 3rd division, Norwegian Premiership and now recently for the Norway national team, and he looks the same assured player regardless of the level he plays at.

I'd say his main asset is his positioning. He's a very clever and intelligent centre back that reads the game perfectly, and he may very well fit into the Premier League. At £2-3m, I reckon Forren is worth a gamble.

Besides, his performances in the Europa League and for the national team indicates that he is DEFINITELY good enough for the Championship, so if the Premier League proves a step too far for him we should still get our money back anyway if he moves on to a club in the second tier.

Drew Shortis
7 Posted 28/11/2012 at 00:41:19

Were Moyes and Round in Norway doing a spot of Christmas shopping and thought they would take in the game as they were already there? There must be some mileage to this story but I like the way Moyes sticks with his guns in not talking about other teams' players. We moan about it when other managers whip the press up into a frenzy about our stars so it would by hypocritical to do the same thing to other, smaller, teams. If only a few more managers had DM's integrity.

As for Forren. Can't say I know a lot about him (more than FM experience!) but it would look like a long term replacement move for Distin. The only issue would be that we already have three very strong options at centre-back and have to leave one out every week. Would another CB be good for squad harmony? I'm surprised Heitinga has stuck around for as long as he has! I still think a second (out-and-out) striker to keep Jelavic on his toes (Vossen?) and a decent central midfielder (Odjidja?) are more pressing recruitment priorities, though Hitzlsperger looks useful still.

Peter Warren
8 Posted 28/11/2012 at 03:22:27

Sell Heitinga and buy a couple of mean beastly guts with the right mentality. We are a soft touch.

James Morgan
9 Posted 28/11/2012 at 09:18:50

Thor Sørensen, best name ever.

We could do with you wielding Mjolnir at centre half!

Thor Sørensen
10 Posted 28/11/2012 at 17:57:21

Haha thanks, James. :-D

Drew Shortis @ 612: This was, I think, the fourth time Moyes has been to see Forren play. 3 times for Molde and once for Norway.

http://www.vg.no/sport/fotball/artikkel.php?artid=10071357

As you can see from the picture in this norwegian newspaper article, Moyes broought Andy Holden and David Weir along with him to scout Forren.

Seems to me their minds are made up and a bid may be imminent.

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