Tuesday 9 December 2008

Hodgson Concedes That Spurs, Arsenal & Liverpool Target Could Leave The Cottagers

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Fulham boss Roy Hodgson has admitted that it will be hard to hold on to defender Brede Hangeland in the January transfer window, should a big Premier League club come calling, with Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool all reportedly linked with the Norwegian International.

27-year-old Hangeland joined Fulham in January from FC Copenhagen and has been a pivotal figure for the Cottagers in the Premiership this season. Hangeland has twice been voted Fulham’s Player of the Month this season, with his performances for the West London club attracting the interest of the Gunners and Spurs along with Rafa Benitez’s Reds team, who were linked with a move for Hangeland in 2007, while the Norwegian was at Copenhagen.

Hangeland cost Fulham just £2.5million, but despite Hodgson having no intention of letting the defender leave Craven Cottage. The former Inter Milan manager has conceded that if a “serious offer” should come in for the player, Fulham would have to give it consideration.

Hodgson told the press: “If a serious offer comes our way for Brede I'm pretty sure it'll have to be considered.

“When the day comes we'll have to take into account all the possibilities and probabilities and make a decision.

“But I would hope - and this might be a naive hope - that we could still keep him because he's got a long-term contract with us here.

“I know he's happy here and happy with his football, so hopefully it hasn't affected his thinking because I don't know what he reads into that type of speculation.”

However, Hodgson also revealed that while Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham have been linked with Hangeland in the press. There is still no indication that any of the trio are interested in the Norwegian captain.

“But at this stage we have absolutely no indication that Arsenal or any club of that stature are interested in Brede,” Hodgson added.

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