Lillestrøm SK has suffered a brutal setback in the transfer market as Tobias Gulliksen changed his mind and flew to Turkey. The player's sudden U-turn after everything was agreed has left the club in a difficult situation, according to sporting director Espen Olsen. The case was first reported by Aftenposten on Monday.
The club is already without Camil Jebara, who is currently sidelined with an injury. This makes the need to strengthen the squad pressing, which makes the loss of Gulliksen especially frustrating. Olsen stresses the deal was completely clear.
What happened with Tobias Gulliksen?
Tobias Gulliksen actually landed in Oslo before the weekend, intending to sign for Lillestrøm SK. The club had agreed all contract details, booked his flight ticket, and prepared a medical test at Åråsen. The only remaining formality was the actual signature and the planned health check.
But instead of being driven to the club by his agent, the player got cold feet. Lillestrøm SK was informed on Sunday that Gulliksen had instead decided to travel to Turkey to sign for a club there. This happened after he had said yes to the deal just the day before.
What does Lillestrøm SK's sporting director say?
Espen Olsen is clearly frustrated with how the situation was handled. He describes it as an incredibly clumsy process from the player's side. "It is incredibly clumsily handled by him. I have never experienced it before. It is very poor style," said Olsen.
Olsen insists the agreement was completely clear and that the agents, who work for Jim Solbakken's company, had done everything right. He fully clears them of any responsibility and says the situation was as surprising to them as it was to him. The responsibility is placed directly on the player.
How does this affect Lillestrøm SK's plans?
The loss of a signing at the last minute is a blow for the club, especially considering the injury situation. Without Camil Jebara, the squad is thinner, and the need for new faces is urgent. Olsen was asked if the club still has the opportunity to sign players to strengthen the team now.
He replied that he believes so, and that they will see what can be done. Time is short, and the club must now quickly consider alternative solutions. The status of the playing group can be followed on our injuries page.
What is the next step for the club?
Lillestrøm SK must quickly forget this episode and focus on the opportunities that actually exist. The work of building a competitive squad for the rest of the season continues. Fans can stay updated on the player roster via our squad overview.
The immediate consequence is that a planned reinforcement did not materialize. The club has no other choice but to move on and seek other alternatives before the window closes.
