Why Vegard Forren chose Southampton over Liverpool

There was some interest from Liverpool and there clearly remains some defensive talent at St Mary’s, so why did Vegard Forren decide to move to Southampton in a £4.2 million transfer?

Liverpool are certainly not the Champions League force they once were and the Norwegian international surely would have fancied his chances of getting games at Anfield . The Merseyside club are still competing in the FA Cup and Europa League as well as having Premier League games to contend with, so Forren would have been a welcome addition to the squad.

The 24-year-old took the number 15 shirt and this should be a lesson to club looking to take players on trial. He was offered a trial at Liverpool, but having made 158 appearances for Molde and having 5 international caps to his name he had little to prove. The interest from the Saints was instant and clear; they painted the perfect vision of building their team around young players such as Nathaniel Clyne and Luke Shaw and wanted to take him in straight away.

The idea of a trial is relevant for players who are an unknown quantity and young and hungry to prove themselves, but Forren was playing professional football to a high standard already so you can understand the Liverpool snub.

The defence hasn’t exactly been Southampton’s strong suit this season despite last night’s rare clean sheet. This is not what this transfer is about though as even with there being a new manager at the helm, picking a club that tailors his needs rather than one which offers the most prestige or money is one which means this transfer appears destined for success.

 Loic Remy may want to take note when his pay packet is sitting in the Championship next season.

This is a move to a relegation fight for all the right reasons and it would surely not be surprising if it pays dividends?

Follow @GrantMilesFF

Comments

[Chris]

Rare clean sheet....3 in last 8 games...isn't too bad for a bottom half side...

[john]

Explain your article, why is "This is a move to a relegation fight for all the right reasons", why is it? how do you know he has not went to southampton to earn more money like Gaston Ramirez did?

[tom]

no not bad at all , and with Forren coming in the side may there be many more

[Karim]

Sorry who is this guy? No offence but 150 appearances for Molde mean nothing.

[Merseypete]

Cos he's a short-term idiot. S'hampton will be back in the Championship next season

[Tony]

You wrote "But Forren was playing professional football to a high standard already so you can understand the Liverpool snub."

"High standard" You're having a laugh aren't you You clearly know sod all about football because if you had watch the Norwegian league you'd understand that it's no better than League 1.Bullet dodged by Liverpool methinks

[jas]

Bitter and twisted scousers.....love it :)

[Rudi85]

Refreshing read. Cheers.

… and I'm loving some of the comments from the (probably plastic) scousers. You'll just have to accept that you are in the same bracket as the likes of Swansea, Stoke and West Brom now-a-days, and that it is quite likely that Southampton will be included in that bracket in the near future.