Norwegian striker Tobias Lauritsen will hit the goal trail at Aberdeen, says club chairman who helped revitalise his career

Norwegian striker Tobias Lauritsen will repay any faith shown in him by Aberdeen with regular goals, insists his former club chairman.

The 24-year-old Odds BK hitman is a transfer target for Aberdeen boss Jim Goodwin.

Aberdeen hope to thrash out a deal to secure Lauritsen as part of Goodwin’s summer transfer window rebuild.

Lauritsen has netted three times in 10 games for Odd in the Norwegian top flight this season.

Hitman Lauritsen is in his second spell at Odd, having exited the club as a teenager for third tier Pors Fotball in 2016.

Gert Willumsen, chairman of Pors Fotball, moved quickly to sign Lauritsen in a move which was key to reigniting the Dons target’s career.

Crucially, Pors transformed Lauritsen into a striker.

It was leap of faith rewarded with 33 goals in just 29 games in his debut season.

That sensational goal return earned a quick-fire return to Odd in the top flight.

Willumsen believes, if Aberdeen also show belief in Lauritsen, it will be repaid by a player who is ‘in the right place, at the right time’ in front of goal.

He said: “Tobias can do a really good job for Aberdeen as he knows where the ball is going to be in the penalty area.

“He is a smart striker. Tobias is always in the right place at the right time.

“When the ball comes into the box, you know he is going to win it with his head.

“He is then likely to score with a header, although he also netted quite a few with his feet for us as well.

“Tobias is a good striker and got some of his confidence back with us.”

‘Tobias just needs to be trusted’

Having suffered the disappointment of leaving top flight Odd at 18 years old, Lauritsen immediately revitalised his career at Pors Fotball.

Then Pors manager Tommy Svindal Larsen saw potential in the teen and switched him to a striker role.

Former Norwegian international Larsen was capped 24 times by his country and starred for Odd, Stabaek and then-German Bundesliga club Nurnberg.

Willumsen said: “Tobias played a few different roles for Odd to start with and I don’t think he was used as a striker.

“Our coach at the time Tommy Svindal Larsen used Tobias as as a striker and informed him on how to play that role.

“That’s where he got his confidence from.

“Scoring 33 goals in one season for us was the stepping stone for Tobias to go back to Odd.

“Scoring so many goals attracted Odd to come back in for him again.

“As long as Tobias can feel confident and Aberdeen trust him, he will score goals.

“Tobias just needs to be trusted.

“He is very dedicated and, at only 24 years old, still has plenty of years left.”

Rapid return to Norwegian top flight after wonder season

Pors Fotball are based in Porsgrunn, just nine kilometres away from Skein, where Odds BK, formerly known as Odd Grenland, play.

Odd kept close tabs on Lauritsen during his prolific season at near neighbours Pors.

Following the prolific season where the striker smashed in 33 goals, the top flight club moved quickly to take him back in summer 2017.

Now Aberdeen boss Goodwin aims to take Lauritsen to Pittodrie as part of his ongoing summer rebuild.

It is understood a Russian top-flight club were interested in Lauritsen in January.

Willumsen said: “Tobias is a dedicated character who is loyal and trustworthy.

“He is a humble person who will do a good job for Aberdeen.

“Tobias scored a lot of goals at our club and did very well.”

Lauritsen scored eight times for Odd last season as the club finished 13th out of 16 teams in the Eliteserien.

Willumsen believes smashing the 30-goal mark for Pors should not be downplayed because the scoring rush came in the Norwegian third tier.

He insists the standard is high and that goal return is rare.

He said: “We play in the third division in Norway.

“You cannot live off playing in the third division, but it is hard not to have professional or semi-professional players in your team.

“You will not be able to succeed without professionals or semi-professionals because it is a tough league.

“Teams that were in the Erelidsie are now playing in our league. To score so many goals in a season is a great return.”

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Goodwin’s bid to bring goal threat