Molde FK manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has revealed that English Premier League new boys Southampton have submitted a formal bid for highly-rated Norway international defender Vegard Forren, Sky Sports understands.
Forren, 24, was set to join Liverpool on a week-long trial, with the Reds keen on sealing a permanent switch for the centre-back.
However, the Saints’ surprise bid for the player has led to the cancellation of his week-long trial at Anfield, with Molde having reportedly accepted Southampton’s offer for the Norwegian defender.
Forren is expected to open talks with Southampton about a possible move to the Premier League in the next couple of days.
“There have been many inquiries from various English clubs, but Southampton submitted an offer, it was very interesting for us and Vegard,” Solskjaer told Romsdals Budstikke.
“We are more or less agreed with the club, but nothing is a hundred per cent confirmed.
“Molde is close to a deal, so we’ll see if this is something that all the three parties will go on.”
Queens Park Rangers, who are set to lose experienced centre-back Ryan Nelsen to Toronto FC in the coming weeks, are also reportedly keen on Forren, while Everton were linked with a move for the 24-year-old in November.
Molde have won the Tippeligaen, Norwegian Premier League, in each of the past two seasons, with Forren anchoring the back-line during each campaign. Prior to 2011, the club had never won the Tippeligaen, finishing as runners-up seven times.
Bayern keen on Jung and Rode
German Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich are reportedly interested in Eintracht Frankfurt duo Sebastian Jung and Sebastian Rode, with the Bavarians keen on carrying out their new transfer policy, implemented by general manager Matthias Sammer, that focuses on signing talented German youngsters, ESPN Soccernet reports.
Furthermore, Bayern are keen to bring Mainz centre-back Jan Kirchhoff to the Allianz Arena before the summer, with the 22-year-old defender having signed a pre-contract with the Bundesliga leaders.
Both Jung, 22, and Rode, 22, are under contract at the Waldstadion until 2014.
Frankfurt general manager Bruno Hubner insisted that Rode was ‘not for sale’ amid reports linking Bayern with the 22-year-old last week.
Unlike Rode, Jung — who is also attracting interest from FC Schalke 04 — is rumoured to have a €2.5 million release clause in his current contract.
Bayern are more than capable, and perhaps willing, of triggering the €2.5 million release clause in Jung’s contract.
In other news, Bayern Munich have rekindled their interest in €3 million rated VfL Bochum starlet Leon Goretzka.
The 17-year-old Germany Under-19 international midfielder is also reportedly attracting interest from Borussia Dortmund and Schalke as well as from unnamed top-flight clubs in England and Spain.
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