Göteborg going for gold

By Jan Juhlin

After finishing 2004 in good form in Scandinavia's Royal League, IFK Göteborg have been busy in the transfer market as the countdown to the Allsvenskan season begins.

Göteborg signings
Malmö FF and Halmstads BK, last year's top two, are yet to make significant moves with the 2005 campaign still more than two months off, but Göteborg have made several signings.

Selakovic arrives
Sweden Under-21 goalkeeper John Alvbåge joins from Örebro SK, Adam Johansson switches from local club Västra Frölunda IF, and winger Tommy Lycén arrives from third-division Grimsås IF. But the highest-profile capture is striker Stefan Selakovic from SC Heerenveen. Coach Arne Erlandsen said: "We now have three very good forwards to choose from, while our other signings give us depth which will help us improve on last season's performance."

Östlund departure
Elsewhere, Swedish international defender Alexander Östlund has left Hammarby to sign a four-and-a-half year deal with Feyenoord in a transfer thought to be worth more than €4m. Hammarby director of sport Tomas Andersson explained: "The money we got gives us a good chance of bolstering the squad. We are primarily looking at an attacking player and not a new defender."

Djurgården changes
Another Sweden player moving abroad is Andreas Johansson, switching from Djurgårdens IF to England's Wigan Athletic FC. His replacement, Feliciano Magro, comes from Landskrona BoIS. In addition, Djurgården are giving trials to four players, including former French international Ibrahim Ba and South Africa's Mbulelo Mabizela, and hope that veteran winger Jesper Blomqvist will recover from knee and hamstring problems to play. "I am feeling better now than I have for a very long time," Blomqvist said.

Mobaeck chance
Also on his way is Lasse Johansson from IF Elfsborg to Heerenveen, with Kalmar FF striker Daniel Mobaeck taking his place. Mobaeck said: "This is a fresh start for me, and I am just hoping to be able to prove my worth."

Örebro appeal
Still rumbling on is the question of Örebro's top-flight status. Despite losing their appeal against relegation for financial reasons, they have been given a hearing by the Swedish Sports Committee on 2 February. However, Assyriska FF have already been promoted in Örebro's place, meaning the Swedish Football Association will hold an extraordinary meeting on 13 February should the appeal be successful.