The news we didn’t want to hear was splashed all over the English press yesterday.

They told us that Brede Hangeland had formally rejected Fulham’s offer of a new contract, which would have doubled his salary to around £30,000 a week. Apparently, Martin O’Neill is ready to table a £9m bid to tempt Fulham to do a deal. Aston Villa are willing to offer Hangeland around £45,000 a week in ages as a replacement for the retired Martin Laursen.

But, judging by his quotes in a Norwegian press interview, Hangeland isn’t so sure. The first quote – rather than the one about the beach volleyball(!) – is the one we should be interested in. When asked whether he will stay at Fulham, Hangeland says:

I believe so, this is what it looks like.

Again, it looks like we’ll have to wait and see.