Cardiff City have completed the signing of Magnus Wolff Eikrem, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has no doubt the playmaker will shine in the Premier League.
Solskjaer was appointed as Malky Mackay’s successor as manager of the top-flight new-boys last week, with assurances that he has a healthy transfer budget for the January window. And the former Manchester United striker has wasted little time in getting the chequebook out, having signed compatriot Eikrem from Heerenveen for an undisclosed fee.
The pair first worked together at Old Trafford, when Solskjaer was the youth team coach, and they were reunited when the 40-year-old signed him for Molde in 2011. And the new Cardiff boss is delighted to have signed Eikrem for a second time, and he is sure the midfielder will be a huge success for the Bluebirds in the Premier League.
“I’ve known Magnus for many years,” he said. “I feel lucky to get to sign him again for Cardiff City for a reasonable price. I see this as money well spent. He’s a playmaker, someone who likes to get on the ball and can see a pass. He’s technically very good, including set pieces, and has great vision. Magnus will add a lot to Cardiff.”
Eikrem was highly rated during his time at United, and although he didn’t make the first team, he was handed a squad number during the 2009-10 season and the following term made their UEFA Champions League squad. The temptation of regular first team football at Molde, his first club as a youth team player, was too good to turn down, and after helping them to two league titles, Heerenveen took him to Holland. He has also made the grade at international level, with 13 caps since debuting for Norway in 2012.
