Brighton and Hove Albion are reportedly set to win the race for free agent defender Vegard Forren.
Vegard Forren (middle) celebrates scoring the second goal for Molde
According to The Argus, Brighton and Hove Albion are poised to sign free agent defender Vegard Forren ahead of Aston Villa and Leeds United.
The Seagulls were surprisingly hammered 3-0 at Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon, allowing Newcastle United to open up a five-point lead at the top of the Championship table.
Brighton, who sit second in the table, remain in a strong position to win automatic promotion to the Premier League, but manager Chris Hughton seemingly wants to add to his squad outside of the transfer window.
The Argus report that Brighton are set to sign free agent defender Vegard Forren to boost their options at the back, fending off competition from two Championship rivals.
Forren, 29, made his name with Molde in his native Norway, before his displays earned him a 2013 move to the Premier League with Southampton under Nigel Adkins and later Mauricio Pochettino.
The centre back failed to make even one appearance for Southampton before re-joining Molde after less than six months on the South Coast, capping off a miserable spell in England.
England’s Danny Welbeck (L) in action with Norway’s Vegard Forren
Norwegian international Forren is now a free agent having left Molde at the end of his contract in January, meaning Brighton can snap him up on a free transfer.
The report claims that both Aston Villa and Leeds United have shown an interest in signing Forren, but he looks set to join Brighton given concerns over both Shane Duffy and Connor Goldson.
Villa have recently taken another free agent – Chris Samba – on trial with a view to a deal given how Steve Bruce is lacking options at the back, whilst Forren could have offered depth in the Leeds defence behind Pontus Jansson, Kyle Bartley and Liam Cooper.
Neither side will be signing Forren though, as he is allegedly set to join up with Brighton and aid their push for promotion until the end of the season.
Do you think Forren is a good signing for Brighton?
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