IFK Göteborg has already managed to bring in several new signings such as Sebastian Ohlsson, Anders Trondsen and Elias Hagen. In addition, they have also promoted several promising talents to A-team contracts. Despite an already well sorted midfield, the club chose to take action and sign Elias Hagen – who have been kicked out since early last fall.
Club director Håkan Mild believes it was not necessarily necessary to bring in another central midfielder, but that an opportunity has presented itself in Hagen’s case.
– We watched. We look at all positions, but sometimes there’s an opportunity for a player who would fit well here. Not always the player is available or there is a good opportunity, but now this one has appeared.
Second GP extension Blåvitt paid about 6.5 million to BodOR/Glimpse to redeem Elias Hagen. Information that Mild neither wants to confirm nor deny.
– I don’t comment on sums or salaries.
Was it an expensive investment by Blåvitt’s standards?
– I do not comment on this.
Despite several new signings, most of the players have also departed from last year’s season. Defensively, Mattias Bjärsmyr has put his shoes on the shelf, as there are rumors of foreign interest for both Calle Johansson and Johan Bångsbo.
Six weeks into the competitive season, IFK Göteborg’s main priority is to bring in a centre-back and forward, reveals Håkan Mild.
– We’ll see what happens. We are looking at a central defender but also one in the attacking end. We have a lot of young and talented players, so we are not sitting by the lake at all, but we are watching.
Do we need an additional central numerically or does it depend on who starts?
– We probably need an extra central defender, absolutely.
In the attacking post one can get by without reinforcements, if both Marcus Berg and Suleiman Abdullahi return in good form. The pair struggled with injury over the winter and neither has entered full training yet.
– Depends on how the two will look physically. Otherwise we don’t need (another striker). We have Linus Carlstrand, Suleiman Abdullahi and Marcus Berg. There it depends on the body and physique, says the club director.
Are you satisfied with the team in general?
– Yes. It is an activity that lasts twelve months a year and there are two windows. Of course we always try to be able to strengthen ourselves. We also don’t know if all our players will stay.
Is there interest in your players now?
– Today we have no concrete interests.
