Spanish La Liga side Espanyol and German Bundesliga (premier league) outfit Hertha Berlin are the latest clubs interested in the signature of Gambia Captain Omar Colley.
Due to his strong displays since moving to Djurgarden in the Swedish
Allsvenskan (premier league) January 2015, the former Wallidan and Real de Banjul ace, 23, has been heavily linked with a move away from the Tele2 Arena with several foreign clubs in England, Spain, Germany,
France and Russia making him a transfer target this summer.
Monaco in France was also linked with the former Kupio player during the January transfer window but a move never materialised and speaking in a recent interview with Swedish publication, FotbollDirekt, Djurgarden’s Sporting Director Bosse Andersson confirmed that several clubs have contacted them over the availability of the Gambian defender.
“Yes, we have had contact with clubs about Omar earlier; we have. But there is nothing that is relevant now,” he told FotbollDirekt when asked about reports linking the defender with a move abroad.
According to German publication, HITC, even though clubs in the English Premier League as well as the French Ligue 1 and the Russian Premier League are interested in the signature of the Gambian defender, the interest of Hertha Berlin, a club that finished seventh in the Bundesliga last season, is the strongest and would want to tie up the 23-year-old in the summer window.
But Andersson said he does not know anything about the reported interest from Hertha Berlin. “I read it, I have no comments. That’s news to me. Since we know that he made an impression as one of the best central defenders in the Allsvenskan, it is clear that he is wanted by big clubs abroad,” he added.
Colley joined Djurgarden from Finnish side Kupio and has been their best defender since. Now in his second season at the Tele2 Arena, he has started each of the twelve games in the Allsvenskan this year, scoring two goals.
He signed a three-year contract with Djurgarden on arrival, which is expected to keep him at the Tele2 Arena until December 2017 and any club interested to price him away from the eleven-time Swedish champions would have to pay heavily.
“[Colly] is absolutely our player. We have had discussions [with him]; we know what Omar wants and he knows our attitude too. We know where we are. He is on international duty and is back with us on 20 June,” Andersson added.
“We know why Omar came to us, and at his age he is an international [for his country]. It is clear that he has ambitions to take a step [forward] maybe in the summer or later, we shall see.”
Djurgarden has in the last two years sold two central defenders abroad in Daniel Amartey and Emil Bergstrom with Colley replacing the former who now plays for English Champions Leicester City. A third sale may occur this summer with Colley and Andersson said the Gambian has the qualities to play at the highest level.
“We value Omar highly. He is a player who is difficult to replace, but in this job you have to be prepared for it,” he added.
by Baboucarr Camara in Rabat, Morocco
