Iversen: Staying at Rosenborg

Related links

Teams

• Norwich City

Players

• Steffen Iversen

Also see

• Transfer Centre
• Clockwatch
• Papers
• Betting
• Fantasy Football

Rosenborg have told Norwich City that Steffen Iversen will not be leaving before the transfer window closes.

Norwich had lined up a move for the former Tottenham striker as Glenn Roeder sought to improve his attacking options.

Though Roeder had not publicly identified Iversen as his target, he claimed the player's current club were not keeping a promise to allow him to return to England.

However, Rosenborg insist the agreement with Iversen is that he could come back to England only if the timing is right for the Norwegian club.

With Rosenborg heavily involved in domestic competition, sport director Erik Hoftun says a deal will not go through during the current transfer window.

Not for sale

"The situation is - it's off," Hoftun told the Eastern Daily Press.

"We are not going to sell Steffen. He is the best striker we have and we have not found a replacement for him, therefore we cannot sell him. We can't sell him in the middle of the season.

"It has to be the correct time and the correct price.

"We will not change our minds. We cannot do this. Steffen is a very important player for us. There are a lot more games left in our season and we have no choice.

"The fact is, we can talk again at the end of our season. That is what I have told Norwich. Maybe we will be prepared to sell him then."