Former Brentford defender Pontus Jansson has revealed the club got in touch with him in January to ask about goalkeeper Hákon Rafn Valdimarsson before signing him from Elfsborg.
That’s according to the defender himself, who has discussed the 22-year-old’s move to London to Fotbollskanalen today.
Valdimarsson joined Brentford in a €3m move last month, immediately going into Thomas Frank’s side as the back up to Mark Flekken.
It’s a big move for the youngster, who so far in his fledgling career has played for KR U19s, Grotta U19s and Elfsborg, with 49 appearances under his belt for the latter.
The hope is that Valdimarsson and be another success story for them to add to the ever-expanding list, but it seems they were keen to do their research first, reaching out to a former Brentford star to get the lowdown before spending their money.
“I have to ask “Danne” (Daniel Andersson, sports manager) what I am allowed to say,” he said.
“I am smart. I sold the second-best goalkeeper in the league. (smiles) No, but Brentford called me. We have a dialogue often.
“As a goalkeeper they knew what he was like, but they wanted to know more about the person and such. After all, Thomas Frank and Johan know each other from before, so he knows what Thomas demands.
“I gave him a positive impression of what Johan said to me. It seems they trusted what I said.
“They don’t usually make mistakes in their signings and from the little I’ve seen of him; he seems to have a bright future.”
