The Rumour Mill

Forren set to leave Molde... But where to?

03/01/2013 |

Comments (26)

Ole-Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that his highly-rated defender, Vegard Forren is in talks with another club over a move from the Norwegian Champions but refused to divulge the details until negotiations were complete.

Forren is known to be on David Moyes's list of targets, the Everton manager and his assistant Steve Round having watched him in Champions League action late last year when they also met with Solskjaer to discuss the possibility of bringing the 24 year-old to the Premier League.

Norway's TV2 went as far as to report that Forren would travel to Merseyside in November to discuss terms and undergo what would have been a premature medical but Moyes was keen to play down the speculation and it proved incorrect.

Forren has attracted interest from Fulham as well as clubs from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands and would reportedly command a fee of around £4m to £5m.

Responding to media curiosity at Forren's absence from Norway's international squad this week, Solskjaer told Romsdals Budstikke: "Yes, Vegard did not travel to the team meeting, because we are in the final stage of talks with a club.

"It is possible that Vegard will travel for a medical and to negotiate a contract. As the national team travel on Thursday morning, we might have to rush this through.

When pressed on the identity of the interested party, the Molde boss said: "It is not quite finished yet, so I will not comment further. But he is very close to a move."

Updates

Sky Sports News and now the Daily Mail have reported that the club in question is Fulham.

Norwegian media, however, say that Fulham is not the club with which Forren is believed to be negotiating and Martin Jol has also denied that his club is the one in talks with the defender.

Original Source: InsideFutbol Rumour source ranking:
1 = Poor; 2 = Fair; 3 = Good; 4 = Very Good; Empty (grey) = Unranked

Reader Comments

Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer

Edward Simpson
773 Posted 03/01/2013 at 04:06:52

Please let this be us who is getting him!

Gareth Fieldstead
780 Posted 03/01/2013 at 07:28:28

Is he as good as your obvious excitement suggests Edward? If we are talkin this sort of fee who is going to be sold?

Kent-Robert Olsen
794 Posted 03/01/2013 at 09:19:31

Knowing Forren from the Norwegian league, I really think that would be a good signing. There might be questions asked about his pace, but his positional play make up for that. He also posesses a really good left foot and he is good in the air even though he is not very tall. Fingers crossed he will sign.

Kevin Day
799 Posted 03/01/2013 at 10:15:18

I would say its JH that is leaving, he would command around the same figure as Vegard's fee, this does sound like a deal we can do, that's unless Arry has been looking at our targets.

Aidy Dews
805 Posted 03/01/2013 at 10:53:34

Would like to think it's us with all the scouting we did and personal checks by Moyes himself but with no one going out of the Goodison door as yet I just cant see it, not for the fees being qouted!.

Edward Simpson
824 Posted 03/01/2013 at 12:23:35

Gareth-He's been the best player in the Norwegian league for the past couple of years, different qualities to Hangeland but as good.

Brian Murray
833 Posted 03/01/2013 at 13:07:46

Man Utd are interested in him as well.

Ben Jones
842 Posted 03/01/2013 at 13:37:53

I don't believe this is us who are signing him; biggest rumour is its Man Utd who are close to getting him but you never know.

Alan Ross
890 Posted 03/01/2013 at 16:20:27

Could be talking to the mire for all we know but let's hope it's us.

Simon Hopkins
916 Posted 03/01/2013 at 16:55:43

I really hope it's us!

Shane Corcoran
964 Posted 03/01/2013 at 19:00:47

SS can reveal that it's Fulham. OMG.

Conor Skelly
967 Posted 03/01/2013 at 19:08:06

Just saw that too Shane. Same old story. If Kenwright doesn't sort some funds out for us to push on this time I'm giving up. What is the point!

Christopher Brierley
969 Posted 03/01/2013 at 19:11:06

Why the hell would he want to go to Fulham? Apart from money there is no real other reason

Shane Corcoran
974 Posted 03/01/2013 at 19:17:03

Hold on lads. Firstly, Fulham bidding for him doesn't mean Everton are not and secondly he may not be any good.

I think our desperation for a purchase results in us being satisfied with an unknown as we don't know for sure that he's no use.

Si Cooper
976 Posted 03/01/2013 at 19:17:01

That is one of the main reasons players want to come to the EPL, Christopher.

Unless there is a boyhood loyalty to factor, if they aren't attracting the super-rich then one middle table club looks much like another one. London seems to be a major consideration for foreign players and if Fulham are offering him a lucrative deal he may view it as better than signing for us.

Fulham may be expecting Hangeland to attract a big money offer from someone and have targetted Forren as his replacement. Hangeland's recommendation may carry some weight as well, whether he is leaving or staying..

Aidan Wade
990 Posted 03/01/2013 at 19:41:05

True Shane (974) This happens every window. We get a tentative link and people start praying it's true.

I mean, Conor (967), has it come to this? If we don't get this guy I'd wager you had never heard of last month, all is for nought? Time for the suicide pacts?

5 million quid is a ton of cash for a Norwegian league player. He might be great, you might never hear of him again. If I trust Moyes about anything it's his eye for value. Even if there is the odd Bily amongst the Arteta's we've bought, when it comes to players we have passed on rather than increase the offer by a million it's been the right call every time*

So deep breath people, I'm sure Moyes would like to swap out JH for a talented young, cheap CB and if it's not Forren for whatever reason, so be it. Olsen (794) says he's quality but his pace is questionable which is exactly what we don't need with the high line we are playing these days.

*I stand by to be corrected.

Col Noon
994 Posted 03/01/2013 at 20:06:08

Currently in talks with Fulham according to SSN.

Ole Martin Kolberg
056 Posted 03/01/2013 at 22:14:48

Apparently going to Fulham; big disappointment. He is a central defender with all-round skills, much better on the ball than Hangeland. He's also got great vision, would have been an excellent addition to the squad. But he chooses Fulham... has he no ambition?

Roger Sunde
070 Posted 03/01/2013 at 22:38:58

It's not Fulham.

Sam Hoare
071 Posted 03/01/2013 at 22:43:10

Roger, how do you know? Or just stirring the pot?

Roger Sunde
073 Posted 03/01/2013 at 22:44:36

Norwegian media says its definitely not Fulham, they don't know who it is though.

It's here (in Norwegian):

http://fotball.rbnett.no/eliteserien/article262674.ece

Col Noon
106 Posted 04/01/2013 at 00:31:07

Norwegian journos saying we are still in the hot seat. I thought we had to sell first? Heitinga maybe? Makes sense. One CB in; one CB out.

Ian Smitham
110 Posted 04/01/2013 at 00:34:16

Col, quite right, what we pay for one we may reasonably expect to get for the other. However, I doubt very much that the new guy, assuming he is signing, will get anything like the wages the present guy gets. Say the new one gets £30k pw to manage on, and the leaver gets £50k pw, saving £20k pw or a million a year.

James Stewart
113 Posted 04/01/2013 at 00:54:26

Heitinga is on plus £50k so needs to come off the wage bill!

Tony Cheek
167 Posted 04/01/2013 at 10:16:15

I agree fully Aidan (990). I have watched Forren play a few times and believe me he has potential to go all the way, but if 5 mill is the price then use the money somewhere else. This season we need to go with experience.
I have never heard of a Norwegian player going for that amount, looks like Solskjær has learnt a lot from SAF!

Colin Glassar
299 Posted 04/01/2013 at 17:40:24

Why buy Forren when we've got Phil Neville? I mean, as far as Moyes is concerned nev can play until he's 50 and in any position.

Add Your Comments

In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site.

» Log in now

Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site.