Viking FK director rejects West Ham and Wrexham bids

Viking FK sporting director Erik Nevland has confirmed the club is rejecting massive transfer offers from West Ham United and Wrexham. The Norwegian club has turned down significant interest in players Edvin Austbø and Henrik Falchener.

West Ham United reportedly submitted a bid of NKK 100m (€9.1m) for Austbø, while Wrexham has been linked with a similar amount for the 23-year-old defender. The Welsh club is also interested in the 21-year-old centre-back, Henrik Falchener. Neither club had submitted a follow-up bid as of Thursday.

Nevland described the proposals as incredibly large sums of money that the club has never approached in its history. He noted that such offers command respect and require a collective decision-making process involving all affected parties rather than a single individual. The director stated that the club is turning down these amounts to ensure they are prepared for upcoming challenges on the pitch.

While acknowledging that rejecting such bids involves a level of gambling, Nevland insisted that the club's staff is united behind these choices. He admitted that maintaining the current squad might prove difficult due to factors outside the club's direct control, though the goal remains to keep the players.

Austbø has previously expressed an interest in moving, describing West Ham as a cool club. Despite the interest from the English and Welsh sides, Viking FK continues to hold its position regarding the duo's future.