Summer target’s move frustration

JORGEN Strand Larsen admits he has made Groningen aware of his frustrations at not being allowed to leave the club this summer, admitting that a move to Middlesbrough would interest him.

The striker is a summer target for Boro who are understood to have bid around £8 million for his signature.

However, financially stable and not in need of the money, Groningen have told Boro that they won’t consider a sale of their star player for less than £12m - a valuation Boro are unwilling to meet.

And while in an interview at the weekend after starting the new season with a goal, the exciting 22-year-old prospect said he wouldn’t push for a move while admitting he would like to leave, he has now gone on record with his frustrations at the Dutch club, labelling their price tag ‘completely ridiculous.’

Speaking to Eurosport Norway, Strand Larsen said: “The club does not want to sell me. It is tough and heavy. I don’t want to make a fuss about pushing through a transfer, but I was hoping they could have sold me by now. Football is fresh and many clubs are interested.

“It is frustrating that they are holding on to me and that they are not helpful in this situation. And the club has heard from me that I am disappointed with them.

“They are taking away from me an opportunity to move on. The club did not deliver well enough last year and see me as an important player this year.

“They push the price up as far as they can until it becomes completely ridiculous. It’s boring and frustrating when they sweep away several clubs. I feel like I’m fighting a battle against a wall.

“It is frustrating that the club will ask for so much money for me. In a normal setting, they would have accepted the offer from Middlesbrough, but the club does not need money.

“Then, unfortunately, it becomes something you can’t do much about. I have realised that our sports director is not so easy to deal with. We will see what happens in the next few weeks, before the transfer window closes.”

Boro’s interest in Strand Larsen this summer comes after an excellent campaign in the Eredivisie last term that saw him net 17 goals in total.

“They aren’t alone in the race to sign him, with Italian Serie A side Bologna also lodging a bid, but below that which Boro have submitted.

Groningen’s technical director Mark-Jan Fledderus had gone on record with the club’s desire to keep the striker, and suggested they would offer Strand Larsen a new contract to try and keep him at the club.

This explosive interview suggests the

22-year-old won’t be taking up such an offer, though the Dutch side do have the power with a two-year deal and a further year’s extension clause already in existence.

Speaking directly of the two offers though, the Norwegian striker admits that both clubs would interest him.

He added: “Middlesbrough will fight at the top of the Championship and seem very interested in me.

“In addition, English football is exciting, with everything that goes with it. Had the club accepted an offer from them, I could quickly go there.

“Then there is Bologna, who are in Serie A. It is a top-five league where you meet a lot of good teams.

“It doesn’t matter which club, because both are tempting and exciting. There would have been nice opportunities to show off, but Groningen don’t want to sell.

“The promotion to the Premier League and a big club in Italy is a bit too big right now.

“Middlesbrough and Bologna are big clubs, but not at the level of the very biggest.

“It would have been a nice intermediate step before I can hopefully make the trip to the Premier League and Serie A.”