Olsson: I'm still focused on Blackburn Rovers (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Olsson: I'm still focused on Blackburn Rovers
9:57am Monday 7th January 2013 in News
By Andy Cryer, Blackburn Rovers reporter
MARTIN Olsson insists he is he focused “100 per cent” on Blackburn Rovers as the club prepare themselves for a fight to keep hold of the Swedish international.
Olsson played a starring role in Saturday’s 2-0 FA Cup third round tie against Bristol City – as Rovers made it three wins in a row for the first time since 2008 – before refusing to get involved in speculation about his future.
Reports claiming West Ham have made a £2million bid for the full back are premature, although the Londoners are expected to make their interest official imminently.
It is understood Rovers are determined to keep hold of the Swede this January with caretaker boss Gary Bowyer adamant Olsson is worth a lot more than the £2million figure being suggested.
Olsson said: “I have nothing to say on that. I just want to focus on Rovers. I don’t want to offend anyone, I just want to focus on my football and that’s it.
“There has been speculation since the summer but I just have to let it go and focus on my football. If I focus on something else, I am not going to be focused here.
“So I am focused on Blackburn 100 per cent.”
With the likes of Gael Givet, Paul Robinson and Mauro Formica also understood to be attracting interest from suitors across Europe, Rovers will be facing a fight to keep their squad intact.
And Bowyer believes there should be no surprise clubs are interested in their players but is hopeful they can fend off potential buyers.
He said: “I’m not surprised the Premier League clubs are interested in Martin Olsson. He is a Swedish international and a very good player. You look at his level of performance, his pace is fantastic and his defending has been good.
“We have got some good players in this football club and I understand Premier League clubs are going to be interested in our players. It is a compliment to them.
“I have not heard that (a West Ham bid), it would have gone to the board first but in my opinion £2million is not enough. He is worth more than that.
“I would not want to lose him, the football club needs good players. We are trying to strive to get back to the Premier League and we need good players.”
It is believed French top flight outfit Evian will have to up the ante in their attempts to sign Gael Givet on loan, having only offered to pay half of his wages.
Meanwhile Rovers full back Adam Henley will have a scan on a hamstring injury he picked up on Saturday today.
Comments are closed on this article.

Comments (30)
10:11am Mon 7 Jan 13
Ryanb74 says...
10:22am Mon 7 Jan 13
dangerous dave says...
Wolves Target their new Manager
Dismiss their current Manager
Agree compensation package with Targeted Managers Club
Appoint New Manager/Staff
Up and Running and not on the Cheap - up and running within a week or so and game plan in place - hope no back lash on Rovers on Friday
OUT WITH SINGH SHAW AGNEW HENDRY VENKYS COAR
10:29am Mon 7 Jan 13
surreyrover says...
10:29am Mon 7 Jan 13
blueblooded says...
Formica doesnt want to go.
Givet may, Evian want him and he likes them.
10:29am Mon 7 Jan 13
Harwoodstblue says...
In any case I believe Singh is the 'manager' and is quite happy to have a coach under him.
10:33am Mon 7 Jan 13
LittleRonnieHildersley says...
My main concern is playing a team with a new manager on Friday!
We need to start turning up to ewood to cheer on bowyer and the boys - their commitment has been excellent despite the circus behind the scenes.
10:38am Mon 7 Jan 13
andybrfc says...
Venkys (or someone) Buy the club for £25M with £20M debt.
Then Sell phil jones for £20M, Hoillet for £4M, Samba for £14M, Nzonzi £3M, Yakubu, £1M, Kalinic £6M, = £48M
Load the club with more debt,(and currently losing £2M per month) get relegated and have virtually no value left in the squad apart from Ollsen and rhodes.
venkys havent dipped their hands in their pocket at all. They have just loaded the club with debt, so expect administration when we don't get promoted. bye bye brockhall and everything that jack built.
10:41am Mon 7 Jan 13
juanbbien says...
10:47am Mon 7 Jan 13
fitz808 says...
10:51am Mon 7 Jan 13
Harwoodstblue says...
10:52am Mon 7 Jan 13
French Rover says...
He really should be playing in the Prem - BUT 2 million is certainly not enough for an International defender who has good pace and we should not consider any offer for him until the end of the season. If we go up we will need him.
10:58am Mon 7 Jan 13
Harwoodstblue says...
Does anyone think Sam would have signed him.....No, and Anderson knew it.
11:09am Mon 7 Jan 13
Captain Dreckley says...
11:29am Mon 7 Jan 13
Is Eckersley playing? says...
11:55am Mon 7 Jan 13
Riverside 7 says...
Well from the LT article above, Martin Olsonn is focused on playing for Blackburn Rovers and is not hammering on Shebby's door.
On that basis he will not be leaving - isn't that right Shebby?
However, Bruno Ribeiro has already returned to Brazil on loan.
Who else will go this month?
Probably Robinson, Givet, Formica.
I believe that it is right that all 3 should leave but I would like the club to explain who is actually making the decisions about the playing staff.
As we have no manager in place, surely it can only be Shebby Singh and that is not in his job description is it?
12:15pm Mon 7 Jan 13
Harwoodstblue says...
12:58pm Mon 7 Jan 13
rovertillidie says...
Our main concern will be who do we have that can play left back, Givet will depart too. Never mind I am sure we all know Shebby will have it all under control.?
1:34pm Mon 7 Jan 13
owd nick says...
1:41pm Mon 7 Jan 13
owd nick says...
This sort of thing goes on at all clubs, they sign players who don't quite make it and move on.
How do you think we got Jones from Man U? Do you think for one minute had he met expectations at Old Trafford he would have ended up at Ewood for next to nothing?
1:51pm Mon 7 Jan 13
owd nick says...
Although I agree with you about Olsson.
But not Lardarse, please, everyone forgets he didn't want to be at Ewood long before Venky's took over, Williams had to beg him to stay the previous season, or are you memories that short?
Because mine isn't.
I still think he engineered his sacking, just like Nelsen and co engineered their transfers out, just like Robinson and Givet are doing right now.
Some old excuses, "My head isn't right", "I am badly injured and can't play, honest", "I'm too fat to play in goal for you now".
1:59pm Mon 7 Jan 13
eddie the eagle says...
That i'm afraid is the bit that worries me if bowyer has an imput that should be fine if Shebby is left to his own devices god knows what we will finish up with .
a central defender from Man U and a full back from Brighton is what I've read
2:44pm Mon 7 Jan 13
owd nick says...
2:49pm Mon 7 Jan 13
owd nick says...
We don't know do we?
Not every player who signs for any club makes it, far more fail in fact.
And before the doomsayers get on my case I'm not defending him, I'm just stating the bleeding obvious.
Man U centre half? I wouldn't complain, and Brighton stuffed Newcastle at the weekend.
2:57pm Mon 7 Jan 13
To.guy says...
3:17pm Mon 7 Jan 13
George.White.Bread says...
All you other horse botherers take note!
3:30pm Mon 7 Jan 13
Harwoodstblue says...
4:53pm Mon 7 Jan 13
owd nick says...
5:28pm Mon 7 Jan 13
BRFC75 says...
IT`S CORRUPT IT STINKS BUT THAT IS THE WAY OF THE ROVERS NOWADAYS.
6:09pm Mon 7 Jan 13
owd nick says...
And deciding on coaching staff and how much they are paid?
And Rovers were not involved in dodgy deals prior to Venky's taking over were they not?
Givet sulked for 12 games last season because Venky's wouldn't pay the "fees" (£75,000 to a "Tailor" in Manchester I believe) allegedly set up by the previous regime at Ewood when he joined Rovers.
That was brushed under the carpet pretty quickly wasn't it?
It goes on at every club, it's still going on and will continue to do so.
12:22pm Tue 8 Jan 13
moh says...