Ulrik Laursen - Danish Defender Linked

[davieG]

Alan Maybury's hopes of playing a part in Republic of Ireland's upcoming World Cup qualifiers have been dashed by a pelvic complaint.

The Leicester defender had been confident of shaking off the problem in time to tackle Israel at Lansdowne Road on Saturday and the trip to Faroe Islands next week, but the complaint has failed to respond to treatment and has forced him to withdraw from the squad.

"When I played against Wolves towards the end of the season I went up for a header and landed awkwardly on my back," he told Leicester's official website. "I felt a pain in my groin at the time but I managed to see out the game.

"We found out after the match that my pelvis had slipped out. The physio put it back into place, but I found I was having to have treatment on it before training every day just to get me through the session. Then I would have to have an hour of rehab afterwards to put the pelvis back in if need be.

"It sounds worse than it was and it wasn't a major problem. Once the season finished I thought it would settle down, but that wasn't the case. Because it had been in and out that many times it just wasn't staying in.

"I was supposed to meet up with Ireland for the World Cup qualifiers after I had an injection in the area, but I did some work here at the training ground last week and my groin became sore again. At that point I thought that I was kidding myself and I was forced to pull out of the squad."

Maybury, who has been nursing the injury since April, is now targeting a return to pre-season training with The Foxes next month.

"The idea is for me now to be fit for the start of pre-season," he added. "The last thing anyone wanted was for me to go away with Ireland and make it worse.

"Pre-season is going to be a fresh start for all of us. It will give the manager the chance to get across to us all exactly what he wants here. I really need to be fit for that period and that is why I am working to get back at the moment."

Foxes boss Craig Levein is believed to be ready to raid Celtic yet again, with defender Ulrik Laursen the object of his desire.

Leicester have already signed Mohammed Sylla and he is believed to be readying a move for Danish stopper Laursen as he attempts to build a side capable of challenging for promotion next term

Source - Sky

Celtic Stats - not played much!

[Alexikokopops]

http://skysports.planetfootball.com/list.a...1&clid=61&cpid=

That's what he said about a move to Norwich a year ago, does sound like Leicester would particularly thrill him.

[EmLeee]

looks like we'll be celtic reserves by the end of the summer at this rate

[Ric Flair]

He's a left back, what do we need another on of those for?

Also he's 29, which is too old for Levein surely. Considering he wants younger players the 3 we've signed so far are 28 (Sylla) 29 (Henderson) and (32) Douglas.

It would be excellent if we were being linked with some English players! We've currently got about 3 in our squad, great.

[Scow]

He's a left back, what do we need another on of those for?

Also he's 29, which is too old for Levein surely. Considering he wants younger players the 3 we've signed so far are 28 (Sylla) 29 (Henderson) and (32) Douglas.

It would be excellent if we were being linked with some English players! We've currently got about 3 in our squad, great.

118797[/snapback]

He might be looking to get rid of Stewart?

[Hutber's Law]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/t...tic/4606699.stm

Looks like there's something in this one. Hardly played for last couple of years but was a regular for Celtic in 2002/3.

[shen]

Personally I would love it if he came here, obviously

He did play regularly after Christmas last season, and Celtic fans I've spoken to, rate him. I don't understand why he wasn't called up to the national team for yesterday's friendly against Finland. I guess his age is a stumbling block, but maybe Levein wants someone more 'solid' on the left instead of Stewart and Tiatto...

[Fox in a Box]

Any signing CITY make must have a clean slate If/when they come here.

I hope he can do the job and well MON rated him so he must be half decent.

Just need MON to return to CITY then hed know half the squad already

[supedaj]

Looking at various reports on his history he looks to be a good player. He's not really old as 29 is the age a defender starts to peak really. Even if we can get his experience for a few years we would have done well. (How old was Thatcher when we signed him?)

Tiatto and Stewart are not as solid and I think this signing will help provide much more competition down that left side - Tiatto wont get booked as easily anymore and Stewart may focus for more than 1 match for once. We cant have Maybury on that lefts ide anymore because even CL has seen he is much more comfortable on the right...

[Hutber's Law]

http://www.fridayclub.co.uk/stats8.html

Found this Celtic fans' site and they gave Man of the Match to Laursen three times even though he played only half the season. Almost as many as Lennon.

They also give Nightmare Man of Match and Rab only got it twice! Interesting to see no Momo in either category.

[Ric Flair]

I do rate Laursen I remember how talented he was when he was at Hibs, but the point is we don't need another left back. It is one position we are covered, what with Tiatto, Stewart, Wilcox and Sheehan. Also Maybury can play there (Levein's loves to whip him out there) and so can Kisnorbo, so that's 6 players who can play there if need be.

If it was a left winger we were after then I could almost see why we need one, but left back we don't. Is he more of a centre half? I think he's played there for Celtic, perhaps that's the aim if we sign him? He is 6ft 3, which is a good height for centre half.

Strikers and centre halves please, preferrably English.

[shen]

He can play either centre half or left back, but with Baldé and Varga, there was no room for him at centre half.

[Steven]

I do rate Laursen I remember how talented he was when he was at Hibs, but the point is we don't need another left back. It is one position we are covered, what with Tiatto, Stewart, Wilcox and Sheehan. Also Maybury can play there (Levein's loves to whip him out there) and so can Kisnorbo, so that's 6 players who can play there if need be.

If it was a left winger we were after then I could almost see why we need one, but left back we don't. Is he more of a centre half? I think he's played there for Celtic, perhaps that's the aim if we sign him? He is 6ft 3, which is a good height for centre half.

Strikers and centre halves please, preferrably English.

118889[/snapback]

Surely it has to be "Strikers and centre halves please, preferably good."

[Ric Flair]

He can play either centre half or left back, but with Baldé and Varga, there was no room for him at centre half.

118890[/snapback]

He'll do then.

I still think we need 2 centre halves and 2 strikers. I hope Levein gets hold of a few English players because we literally have about 3 or 4 of them and that's not good.

[Ric Flair]

I do rate Laursen I remember how talented he was when he was at Hibs, but the point is we don't need another left back. It is one position we are covered, what with Tiatto, Stewart, Wilcox and Sheehan. Also Maybury can play there (Levein's loves to whip him out there) and so can Kisnorbo, so that's 6 players who can play there if need be.

If it was a left winger we were after then I could almost see why we need one, but left back we don't. Is he more of a centre half? I think he's played there for Celtic, perhaps that's the aim if we sign him? He is 6ft 3, which is a good height for centre half.

Strikers and centre halves please, preferrably English.

118889[/snapback]

Surely it has to be "Strikers and centre halves please, preferably good."

118891[/snapback]

True!!!

Strikers and centre halves please, preferrably good and English.

[connolly19]

Yeah but Levein knows these players from Scotland and he must think they can do a job, so we must not pass judgement until we have seen them play! Look at how brilliant Hughes and Maybury have been for us! As Micky Adams would say 'Keep The Faith'

[Little Nicky]

To me that just re-ignites the argument that Stewart could be on his way; perhaps to Burnley as Cotterill is a fan! I wouldn't mind seeing him down here, looks like a bit of a Thatcher type, and I'm all for that, would like to see Stewart pushed forward into midfield if this is the case! Sod Tiatto!

[City Fan]

I would be happy to see Jordan leave the club. I think his head is too big for his shoulders - remember when it took several attempts to get him to sign a contract? We need a new left winger because Tiatto often loses his form after a string of games and is also suspended for half the games.......

[Steven]

As Micky Adams would say 'Keep The Faith'

118978[/snapback]

[davieG]

Ulrik Laursen looks set to leave Celtic, with the defender admitting he has asked for his contract to be paid off.

Laursen has attracted Leicester City, but a return home to OB has not been ruled out.

"Celtic are, at the moment, considering the sum I have demanded to cancel my contract with the club," Laursen told Fyens Stiftstidende.

"It looks like the manager doesn't believe in me.

"It might be that I come back and show well in training and he changes his mind.

"Right now I haven't sorted out anything, but if I do move home then OB is my favourite option."

Source

[Molson Canadian]

we still might have a chance getting him unless he decides to go back home and join OB

i think he would be a good signing

[shen]

we still might have a chance getting him unless he decides to go back home and join OB

i think he would be a good signing

122180[/snapback]

He can earn bigger wages here... It probably depends how OB finish their season. I can only see him go there if they achieve European Qualification, which is unlikely at this point...

[Thracian]

He can play either centre half or left back, but with Baldé and Varga, there was no room for him at centre half.

118890[/snapback]

He'll do then.

I still think we need 2 centre halves and 2 strikers. I hope Levein gets hold of a few English players because we literally have about 3 or 4 of them and that's not good.

118892[/snapback]

"Are there any English left out there?."

[davieG]

From the Merc today:

Make me a free agent - Laursen

Celtic defender Ulrik Laursen wants to have his contract paid up at Parkhead - and that could mean renewed interest from Leicester City this summer.

The Danish international, who was linked with a move to City last season, believes he does not fit in with the plans of new Celtic boss Gordon Strachan.

The 29-year-old has asked the Scottish club - runners-up in the SPL last season - to pay up his contract and effectively make him a free agent.

Laursen, who was signed for Celtic three years ago for £1.5million after impressing former boss Martin O'Neill, still has two years of his current deal to run.

However, he has said he would be interested in moving to City, although he has not ruled out a return to OB Odense, his former club in Denmark.

Laursen said: “Celtic are, at the moment, considering the sum I have demanded to cancel my contract with the club.

“It looks like the manager doesn't believe in me. It might be that I come back and show well in training and he changes his mind.

“Right now I haven't sorted out anything, but if I do move home then OB is my favourite option.”

The comments come after Laursen, who plays on the left side of defence, claimed City had made enquiries about his availability.

The former Hibernian player said earlier this month that City manager Craig Levein wanted to take him to the Walkers Stadium, where he would link up with former Celtic duo Rab Douglas and Momo Sylla.

Levein is known to still be on the look-out for players to strengthen City's defence and attack, although his midfield appears to have the necessary competition for places with Stephen Hughes, Gareth Williams, Joey Gudjonsson, Danny Tiatto, Jordan Stewart, Jason Wilcox and new arrival Sylla in the frame.

Laursen said: “I know Leicester have inquired about me. It does not sound uninteresting. They were interested in me back in January.”

He added: “In case there is no future here, Leicester is a good option.”