Viking rejected Southampton’s offer worth almost €10m for Henrik Falchener and had been hoping the Championship club would return with an improved deal.
They also believed there were more clubs interested in signing him, so they expected it would not be difficult to offload the defender for a better fee.
However, the transfer window has entered its final hours, and there are no other offers on the table for Falchener. He now looks set to remain at Viking, which may not be a bad outcome for the Norwegian club.
The defender has been a regular for them over the last two seasons, and they will compete in the expanded Champions League this season. Keeping him could therefore prove to be a very positive outcome after all.
Southampton move on
Falchener would have loved to move to England, but that transfer now appears unlikely to happen. According to Give Me Sport, Southampton have moved on to an alternative target.
The defender was not the only player they considered signing, and after Viking rejected their bid for his signature, the Saints have focused their attention on their next option.
Southampton had hoped their initial offer would be enough to convince Viking to sell, but the Norwegian club believed Falchener was worth more. Their decision to reject the proposal has now left the defender facing the prospect of staying with Viking.
Falchener set to stay
There is not enough time for a prolonged back-and-forth between the clubs because the transfer window closes in a few hours.
The report says Southampton have now ended talks with Viking over Falchener’s signature, making it increasingly likely that the defender will remain with the Norwegian club.
Although Falchener would have welcomed the opportunity to move to England, staying at Viking would give him the chance to compete in the expanded Champions League and continue playing regularly.
For Viking, retaining an important defender could ultimately prove more valuable than accepting a lower offer at the last moment. They had hoped Southampton would improve their proposal or another club would make an approach, but neither has happened.
With Southampton now pursuing another defender, Falchener looks set to stay at Viking, at least for the time being.
Greed wanting to much. Now his dream move to the saints. Not going to happen. But until the deadline hope perhaps, as zI just seen him having a medical at private hospital. Taxi ready to rush to airport, Private plane booked for Southampton Air Port. English clubs like the saints know how to get bargains and last minute detaild