From data to a watching brief, Matt Bloomfield has explained all the factors that went into identifying Lasse Nordås as a striker that can help Luton get the goals to keep them in the Championship.
Town swooped to sign the Norwegian from Tromsø on transfer deadline day, making the 23-year-old the last of eight new recruits signed in the transfer windwo to try and help the Hatters pull away from the second tier relegation zone.
Reports from Scandinavia suggested the deal for Nordås could be worth up to 40 million krona (£2.8million), though the fee is officially undisclosed.
But the Hatters have also invested in their recruitment team in the last few years, and have used data as part of their work, which has allowed them to cast their net wider across the globe, having already signed Lamine Fanne from Sweden and, from Belgium, Daiki Hashioka and Christ Makosso.
Bloomfield said: “Obviously, data now plays a part in football clubs up and down the country, we know that. Plus, there’s intel or speaking to people and agents and scouts and watching, bits on online and people going direct to watching in person.
“There’s so many different contributing factors, different transfers. And the world’s become smaller in terms of football recruitment. We’re seeing that up and down the leagues in terms of recruiting from abroad.
“So, yeah, that was obviously a lot of work that went into it. And the recruitment team have been working extremely hard for a number of months now, not just since I’ve been in the building.
“And as we’ve spoke about before, it was about trying to align our targets all together. We’re really pleased to welcome Lasse in the building. [It’s] obviously a big deal for us as a football club to be able to go cast our net far and wide.”
Tromsø said Nordås’ switch to Luton was one of the the biggest deals in their history and it came after Town had a reported four bids for Wycombe hotshot Richard Kone turned down by the League One club, the last understood to be £7million. The Ivory Coast forward’s 19 goals seemed the ideal antidote to Luton’s low scoring attackers.
But having moved for Nordås instead, Bloomfield has talked up his talents, having bagged nine times in 30 Norwegian top-flight appearances, plus two in the Europa League.
“We’ve spoken a number of times about wanting to score more goals and retain our attacking threat that the club’s held for previous years but not quite been there this season. His left foot, he’s a real good finisher. He carries a threat in the box, heading-wise as well, can hold the ball up.
“He’s a bit of an all-rounder and someone we’re looking to adapt to the English game as quickly as possible. He’s going to take a little bit of time because he’s coming out of an off-season period. But he works really, really hard. and he’s adapted really well so far, so hopefully he can take that out on some match day.”
At 6ft 4ins tall, Nordås could provide a focal point for the crossing abilities of Alfie Doughty, though Bloomfield insisted his aerial advantages are not his only weapon.
[With] Alf’s great delivery, we’ve been working really hard on the training ground with young Joe [Johnson] and Reuell [Walters] the other side and Hashi [Daiki Hashioka] as well to make sure we have good delivery, good service into our forward players, different types of crosses from the wide players as well, which different areas of the pitch.
“So, absolutely, his aerial threat comes as well. And I think the Championship is a big part of the game, aerially, so physically he needed to be ready to go. And I think that’s a good thing, that he comes with that physical presence.
“I wouldn’t suggest he’s a target man. He’s a bit of an all-rounder. He can run in behind, but he isn’t maybe just a runner. He can hold the ball up, bring others into play, can certainly play with his back to goal, but he can also play on the last line as well.
“[It’s] absolutely important that we adapt him to the way that we want to play and make sure he understands everything that we’re going after.
“The other boys have had a couple of extra weeks but, yeah, he can play with his back to goal, but he can also offer a threat in behind. So, a bit of an all-rounder and someone who we hold high hopes for.”
Nordås will be on the bench for tonight’s trip to Sunderland.
A Nordic football expert’s view on Nordås
Watch the Luton Town Supporters’ Podcast’s discussion with the Nordic Football Podcast co-host, Steve Wyss, about Luton’s newest signing.
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