Swedish Star Admits English Interest

Swedish winger Erik Ring has opened up on a potential move away from AIK.

AIK beat Djurgårdens in the Stockholm derby over the weekend, closing the gap between the two to six points. Ring was an unusued substitute, and speculation has been building about a possible move to English League One outfit, Lincoln City.

That speculation seems to now have been confirmed, with the player opening up about his visit to Lincoln, and what the future may hold for him.

The club’s sporting director, Thomas Berntsen, admitted a deal is in discussion, and it is up to the player to decide how he wishes to progress. “I cannot name specific clubs, but we are in dialogue with a club regarding a sale of Erik,” he told Fotbollskanalen. “

“So we’ll see in a day or two if that happens. I’m actually going to talk to him after training today. It is up to Erik how he wants to do it. Erik is welcome to sign a longer contract with AIK. If he chooses to move, he is always welcome back to AIK.”

That puts the ball firmly in the court of the winger, who let it slip that he had visited Lincoln and was impressed with what he say.

“It was a nice city. Very good conditions with a nice training facility, good grass and several pitches,” said the 22-year-old.

“I love being in AIK. I love the club. It’s nice that there is interest from Lincoln. It’s a good team and a better league than many people think. There are a lot of good teams in that series. But, as Thomas (Berntsen) said, it’s up to me. We’ll see how it turns out.”

The player has appeared 47 times for the Stockholm-based side, as well as impressing on loan last season with Helsingborg. However, his contract expires in December, and while his loan at Helsinborgs was a success, but he has struggled this season to force himself into the AIK side, making six appearances, all from the bench.

Site Opinion

This is an unusual situation, as it appears all parties are quite relaxed about what is happening. Ring is clearly at ease with the situation, but he has a big choice to make. Does he twist and go for first-team football on Lincoln’s left, or stick and hope to force himself into his boyhood side?

He doesn’t have long to make the decision. The transfer window will ease shut in the next fortnight, and by then, Ring will have made a serious decision about his career.