Allsvenskan preliminary start date

The Allsvenskan has announced a preliminary start date of April 2009 has the start of the 2009 Allsvenskan.
With the Fixtures the be announced in the new year many changes are being made. The new Ullevi Stadium in Goteborg is open and Malmo plan to move into their new stadium in next summer while Kalmar are thinking about building a new stadium.
So far there have been major departures from the league with Johan Wiland heading south to Denmark, Viktor Elm and Patrik Ingelsten heading to Holland and Kusi Asare going to Denmark.
But one team has so far remained silent ever since the Allsvenskan finished in November. Hammarby from Stockholm have been very silent with no transfers in or out yet and new change of coach. But speculation as to Charlie Davies' future is still going around. The American has made no secret of a move abroad possibly next year but he remains a Hammarby player.

Kalmar lose Ingelsten

Champions Kalmar have sold star striker Patrik Ingelsten. The striker who played a key role in Kalmar's title win last month was attracting interest from abroad in Denmark, Holland and Germany.
Ingelsten becomes the 3rd major departure from the Champions in the last 6 months following the departures of Cesar Santin and Viktor Elm.
Ingelsten has joined Heerenveen and will link up Viktor Elm. Heerenveen have been interested in looking at players from the Allsvenskan.
Patrik Ingelsten and Viktor Elm will both join Heerenveen on January 1st.

Kim Olsen to remain at Örebro SK

Örebro's topscorer last season has made his loan move permanent after such a great season for the big Danish striker.
Kim Olsen, who hit a hat-trick against IFK Goteborg back in August has signed a 3 year-deal which will keep him at the Behrn Arena until 2011. Kim Olsen will be Örebro's main striker next season as he hopes to continue where he left off last month.

Jones Kusi-Asare to join Esbjerg

Djurgårdens are to lose their Ghanian striker Jones Kusi-Asare on a free transfer. The former Landskrona BoIS striker is joining Danish side Esbjerg when his Djurgårdens contract expires on January 1st.
Jones Kusi-Asare who joined Djurgårdens in 1999 has played all over Europe and left Djurgårdens in 2001 to join Grazer AK in Austria. Kusi-Asare spent just a season in Austria scoring 6 goals before joining Denizlispor of Turkey.
Landskrona BoIS bought him back to Sweden in 2003 and after a season he rejoined Djurgårdens where he has been a regular since 2005.

Quirino leaves Djurgårdens

Djurgårdens have sold their Brazilian defender Quirino to Japanese side Consadole Sapporo. The Brazilian leaves behind Djurgårdens in a rebuilding process.
Djurgårdens had an awful 2008 season and are rebuilding for 2009. Thiago Quirino da Silva leaves for 2 500 000 SEK.
Djurgårdens will be using the money to rebuild the squad. Quirino will join Consadole Sapporo on January 1st.

Peter Westman extends Contract

Örebro keeper Peter Westman has extened his contract for another season. The expierienced keeper join Örebro in 1999 and has signed on until the end of the 2009 season when he is expected to bring his Örebro stay to a close.
Peter Westman started last season as No.1 but was overtaken by John Alvbåge. Peter Westman is a good keeper to have at 2nd choise and will be fighting for a No.1 place in what is expected to be his final season with Örebro.
Peter Westman will want to be the no.1 for the pre-season games coming up in the new year.

Everton to boost Larsson hunt

English Premiership side Everton are set to boost their hopes to sign Helsingborgs' Henrik Larsson. The former Celtic man's contract is up in January and one more shot at the highest level could be on the cards.
Everton are suffering a striker crisis with Yakubu out for the season and James Vaughan out injured along with Victor Anichebe Everton will be hunting for Larsson's signature. But Everton will face competition with PSG, Man City and Al Rayyan interested in signing the 37-year old.

Villa say no to Larsson

Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has played down rumors of a bid for Helsingborgs' striker Henrik Larsson.
Larsson spent seven years under O'Neill at Celtic and some suggested a bid was likely but O'Neill, speaking after his side beat Everton 3-2 on Sunday was asked about the situation and O'Neill went on to say he wanted Larsson's Celtic spell to remain as a very positive memory.
Larsson has been followed by Everton, PSG and has amazingly rumored to have received an offer from Al-Rayyan in Qatar.
Helsingborgs have said that they will offer Henrik a new 1-year deal to keep him for this coming season Helsingborgs who finished 4th last season need to keep their star players and Larsson is certainly a star player.

Allsvenskan count-down

The Allsvenskan 2009 is being geared as the best ever and following a sucessful 2008 season in which 16 teams were used for the 1st time fans are hoping for more of the same come March.
In mid-December we are just over 3 months away from the start of the new season.
With the last weekend in March being the possible start date clubs have begun to prepare with new signings.
Some of suggested the first weekend in April will be the start date but the Allsvenskan organisers will choose a date in the new year.
For now all we can do is wait and get up to date with the transfers that happen between now and March.

Kalmar strengthen team

2008 Allsvenskan winners Kalmar have raided Ljungskile for Daryl Smylie. The Northern Ireland man had been on Kalmar's wanted list as soon as the season ended.
Smylie suffered relegation with Ljungskile last month when they lost to IF Brommapojkarna in the play-off. Ljungskile were reluctant to sell but it was clear that a player of his class should remain in the Allsvenskan.

Daryl Smylie:
Daryl Smylie is a Northern Ireland international and previously played with Newcastle in England. A move to Livingston in Scotland followed and he left Livingston in 2007 to join Ostersund in the Swedish Division 1. He impressed while at the club and Ljungskile signed him and had an impressive season in 2008 despite relegation. Smylie joins Kalmar with the task of replacing Viktor Elm who has joined Heerenveen in Holland.

Henrik Larsson to move?

Helsingborgs' legendary striker Henrik Larsson is rumored to be on his way out of his home-town club after two years in the Allsvenskan.
Henrik Larsson has been linked with numerous clubs from around Europe and despite being 37 some people still think he can still do it at the highest level.
Larsson is a legend in Scotland for his heroics for Celtic with 226 goals for Celtic in 7 years. He also preformed well for Barcelona during a 2 year spell with 15 goals which also saw him win the Champions League before moving to Helsingborgs on a free transfer in July 2006.
In early 2007 Larsson joined Man United on loan and returned to Helsingborgs for the start of the 2007 Allsvenskan.
Larsson hasn't ruled out a move yet and says anywhere is possible. Increased interest from Everton has made a move to the Premiership possible.

Malmö's new stadium

Malmö will be moving into their new 18,000 Swedbank Stadion next April when the new Allsvenskan expects to kick-off.
Malmö who currently play at the Malmö stadion had a torrid season in 2008 with new European football to baptise their new ground the fans will be hoping that a good season in 2009 will means European football in 2010.
Malmö have started plans for next season with the club recalling the loaned out player in 2008 back to the club.
Joakim Persson and Philip Milenkovic have finished their loan spells at IFK Malmö while Daniel Sliper has returned from Malmö based Linhamn.

Transfers:
Jonas Standqvist has been touted by Rosenborg and Elfsborg. Malmö have denied any contact from any club and claim he will be their no.1 next season. Brazilian defender Gabriel is wanted by Vasco De Gama and Kalmar but nothing has been reported yet.

Örebro announce 2009 Plans

Örebro have announced their pre-season fixtures for 2009. The Central Sweden side who finished a creditable 7th in the Allsvenskan last month will begin pre-season on January 31st against part-timers Kongsvinger IF.
Örebro also face Norwegian side Fredrikstad on February 14th before facing Degerfors 4 days later.
31st January:
Örebro v Kongsvinger IF

7th February:
Örebro v Gefle

11th February:
Örebro v BK Häcken

14th February:
Fredrikstad v Örebro

18th February:
Örebro v Degerfors

28th February:
Örebro v Djurgården

7th March:
Hammarby v Örebro

11th March:
GAIS v Örebro

14th March:
Örebro v IF Brommapojkarna