Iceland international striker Alfred Finnbogason has revealed his disappointment in current club SC Heerenveen for reportedly turning down an £8 million bid from Fulham on deadline day.
Last month, Finnbogason, the leading goalscorer in the Dutch Eredivisie, was linked with a potential move to the English Premier League amid reported interest from Everton and West Ham United.
The Toffees opted to sign Lacina Traoré on loan from French moneybags Monaco, while West Ham brought in Marco Borriello on loan from Serie A contenders A.S. Roma.
The aforementioned moves opened the door for Fulham to make an £8 million approach, which was reportedly rejected by Heerenveen, for the highly-rated Finnbogason.
“They always said they wanted €10 million for me and now they didn’t co-operate,” said the 25-year-old striker.
“I am disappointed in Heerenveen because I can’t play in the Premier League.”
After failing to land Finnbogason, Fulham were able to bring much-needed reinforcements on deadline day, including Olympiakos striker Kostas Mitroglou in a deal worth close to £12 million.
The Cottagers also signed Manchester United youngsters Manchester United youngsters Larnell Cole and Ryan Tunnicliffe as well as John Heitinga, Lewis Holtby and William Kvist in January.
However, Holtby and Kvist could not prevent Fulham — priced at 8/15 to be relegated from England’s top-flight — from going rock bottom after a 3-0 home defeat to Southampton on Saturday evening.
Konoplyanka wanted Liverpool move
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers has defended the club’s managing director Ian Ayre for the way he handled the transfer negotiations for Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk winger Yevhen Konoplyanka.
The deadline day deal for the highly-rated Ukraine international fell through at the last possible moment, with Dnipro alleging Liverpool failed to transfer the necessary capital in time.
Konoplyanka had already agreed personal terms and passed a medical but Dnipro owner Ihor Kolomoyskyi blocked the deal, according to Sky Sports.
“The club did everything possible to get the player in,” said Rodgers.
“In every aspect – the finance, we had our chief scout and managing director and doctor out there to conclude the deal – and from our point categorically Ian Ayre did a brilliant job trying to negotiate.
“I’ve heard the problem mentioned was about the money but that was not a problem. It just wasn’t to be.
“I feel really sorry for the player because he was obviously desperate to come but it’s gone now and we will review it in the summer.”
Liverpool — priced at 4/6 to earn a Top-4 finish in the Premier League this season — missed out on their top transfer targets, Mohamed Salah and Yevhen Konoplyanka, in January.
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