While GM Erik Soler said the Red Bulls haven’t had any talks with Designated Players, they’ve clearly been doing some legwork on middle-rung European veterans. Soler said they “expects” to bring in English striker Luke Rodgers in January and will re-open talks to sign Norwegian midfielder Jan Gunnar Solli.
The 28-year-old Rodgers was to have made the jump from League Two Notts County this summer, but a past arrest for affray proved a stumbling block with INS. He scored 13 goals in 42 games to help Notts County earn promotion to League One, but seems destined to exit to New York this winter.
“We expect to have him in January,” Soler said. “That’s what we expect. It’s something that Hans is very happy about. He wants the speed and work rate.”
The Red Bulls aren’t nearly as certain about getting Solli. They put in an $81,000 bid for him this summer which SK Brann rejected, but the midfielder will be out of contract this winter and Soler plans to re-enter negotiations at that point.
“Yes, it’s the same (as Angel). He’s also in his season. I talked to his agent and said after their season is ending at approximately the same time as ours, then we’ll pick up the talks,” Soler said. “But that’s somebody we’re definitely interested in.”
Solli is a 29-year-old who has played centrally and on the right wing. He’s played for Odd Greenland, Rosenborg and now SK Brann, winning a total of four Norwegian league titles. He has also been capped 40 times for Norway. Soler _ an ex-Norway Nat himself _ is very familiar with Solli and likened him to Joel Lindpere, a newcomer who has already become a fan favorite in Harrison.
You can check out a glimpse of his game here, scoring at :44 and dribbling and shooting at :30 and 1:12.
“I see him as a guy that can play any midfield position and right fullback,” said Soler. “He can play outside on the left side, defensive midfield, offensive midfield he can play on the right side if you want him to go inside. He’s the same kind of character he can play in different positions and be comfortable.
“(He has) a good head for football and I think he will be approximately the same as Lindpere, the same kind of player in many ways: Right foot instead of left foot, powerful, good physical ability, will work for 90 minutes, good understanding, good on the ball. So without being a star _ he’s not Rafa Marquez or anything _ but he’s a good solid guy.
“I saw him for the first time in the (Tippeligaen) coming in at 17, he’s now 29, so I’ve followed him for quite a while. Hans knows him and wanted him to come to Copenhagen when he was coach there but his club didn’t want to sell him at that time. So he’s a player that we know very well, know his limitations and what he can do.”
