Norwegian side Viking have refused substantial financial offers from two British clubs, demonstrating their resolve in the transfer market.
West Ham United made a move for 21-year-old winger Edwin Aastbø, while Wrexham lodged a similar inquiry for 23-year-old centre-back Henrik Falkener.
Each offer was reported to be around 100 million Norwegian kroner, which translates to approximately €9.1 million.
Player and club hierarchy reactions
Edwin Aastbø himself has openly expressed his desire to continue his career in England, commenting on the Championship interest:
I’m not sure of the exact size of the offer or what Viking are asking for, but West Ham is a fantastic club, and this option is definitely interesting to me.
Viking's sporting director, Erik Nevland, spoke on the decision to reject club-record bids:
Turning down such substantial offers illustrates our commitment to being fully prepared for our upcoming challenges on the pitch.
These are incredibly large sums, bids that deserve respect. Of course, there’s an element of risk in such decisions, but the entire club hierarchy is unanimous. We hope to retain our squad, though we understand that not everything is within our control.
As of now, neither Nuno Espírito Santo’s side nor Wrexham have come back with improved offers.
