Norwegian teen can save club millions, says Celtic manager

TONY Mowbray is hoping that snapping up 19-year-old Thomas Rogne now could ultimately save the Parkhead club millions of pounds in the transfer market.

Claiming that the Norwegian U-21 player isn't necessarily one for "this weekend, next weekend or the weekend after that", he added: "I think you buy Thomas Rogne and hopefully save yourself 5 million or something two years down the line when the club needs a centre half and you've already got him. It's the same with Josh Thompson, they've got g

Central defender Rogne, who was out of contract at Norwegian champions Stabaek, was pinpointed by John Park but was quickly given Mowbray's seal of approval. "From the first few minutes watching him on the training ground I could see he had the attributes to be a player at this club. He played alongside Jos Hooiveld in a bounce game against a very strong Blackburn Rovers side. The strikers were Jason Roberts and El-Hadji Diouf so it was a good test for the centre halves and it was 0-0 at half-time when they went off."

He said that neither would start against St Johnstone this afternoon but Rogne can't wait for his first opportunity. Surprised to hear of Celtic's interest, he said: "As soon as I heard, I was sure it was something I wanted."

Celtic are also understood to have agreed a fee for Brondby's Morten Rasmussen. Nicknamed Duncan after former Scotland striker Duncan Ferguson, the 6ft 4in Danish international would become Celtic's third signing from Scandinavian clubs in January, following Hooiveld, from Swedish side AIK, and Rogne.