In early May we covered claims from Norway of Wolves interest in Odd’s John Kitolano.
The Norwegian media don’t really ‘do’ transfer rumours, which brings a feeling of reliability, and Varden newspaper had found out the unnamed Championship team said to have made an offer for Kitolano was Wolves.
Plenty of scouting had been going on, and Kitolano looked like he’d been recommended by Gary Goodchild who had recently been appointed the club’s scout for Scandinavia.
Wednesday’s edition of the same newspaper has good news and bad news for any Wolves interest. The offer is backed up again, and it’s stated Wolves remain keen to sign the player, but Varden say Kitolano wants to stay where he is and sign a renewal.
The 18 year old is quoted as saying: “We have a good dialogue with Odd. I expect it to be done soon. I do not want to move anywhere. I want to be in Odd.”
Until pen is put to paper, those are hollow words. Kitolano’s contract expires in December (different from June expiry dates in much of Europe because of the Norwegian weather-encouraged football calendar) and Varden say if he doesn’t renew then Odd would only be entitled to 2.5m Norwegian Krone in training compensation.
That works out to be around £220k, but when players move outside their own FA, different rules are often in place.