The Norwegian has signed for Brighton and Hove Albion almost a decade after Dennis Wise scouted him at Newcastle United.
A lot changes in nine years. In the faraway world of 2008, Newcastle United were still a Premier League team, a side with Michael Owen, Joey Barton and Obafemi Martins. In many ways, however, that late-noughties Newcastle has plenty in common with the modern day vintage. Namely, that owner Mike Ashley’s restrictive transfer policy continues to cause divisions within the camp.
However, according to The Chronicle, just a few weeks after Kevin Keegan sensationally resigned following James Milner’s sudden sale to Aston Villa, the club started scouting Norwegian youngster Vegard Forren as Ashley put into place his infamous buy-low, sell-high policy.
The derided Dennis Wise, playing a major role in recruitment, reportedly sent scouts to watch the £4 million-rated 20-year-old in action for Molde, though eventually no deal was forthcoming.
Flash forward nine years, however, and in a rather ironic quirk of fate the same Norwegian defender has joined Newcastle’s main rivals for automatic promotion, Brighton and Hove Albion.
According to The Argus, The Seagulls have offered Forren a contract as cover for the absent Shane Duffy and Connor Goldson, meaning the Scandinavian could be set for a surprise return to England after a forgettable six-month spell with Southampton in 2014 in which he failed to make a single appearance.
Forren returned to Molde from St Marys and now, after his contract expired in January, will be hoping his second spell on the South Coast is far more successful than the first.
Newcastle may have thought that Duffy’s six week absence would hand them a major advantage in the title race but wouldn’t it be ironic if a player they scouted so many years ago returned to haunt them almost a decade on?
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