It’s been just over a month since Luton Town’s relegation to League One was confirmed, just a year after they were playing football in the Premier League.
Matt Bloomfield fumed after his side’s 5-3 defeat to West Brom on the final day of the season, as results elsewhere ensured that the Hatters were confined to third tier football for the first time since 2019.
Now, with the transfer window open, changes must happen to ensure that the Bedfordshire outfit are well-positioned to automatically return to the Championship, although they will face stiff competition from title favourites Huddersfield Town.
Luton went big in January, and signed Thelo Aasgaard for a fee that the Daily Mail reported to be £3m. However, after leaving Wigan Athletic to help further his career higher up the EFL, he is now back in League One and another move could be on the cards.
Thelo Aasgaard makes Luton Town exit admission
After scoring two goals in 17 appearances for the Hatters in the Championship, there is still plenty left to show to the Kenilworth Road faithful for the Norway international. However, Aasgaard’s national team manager has already urged him to leave Luton in search of another club in the second tier.
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Sebastian Frej/MB Media/Getty Images
While Stale Solbakken has said similar about other players previously, including Derby County’s Sondre Langas, the message seems to have got through to the midfielder who has cast doubts on his future at Luton.
He said (via: VG)”It’s a difficult situation for the club. I felt I performed well in a difficult situation for the club. It’s hard to say. Everyone is on vacation now.
“I’m just focusing on the game on Friday. What I can say is that the World Cup in a year is a big goal for me.”
Championship clubs will be queueing up for Luton’s star player
While he has not explicitly said that he will leave, Championship clubs will be keeping a keen eye on Aasgaard this summer, and it would not be a surprise to see him return to the second tier now that the transfer window is open.
The World Cup is an obvious priority for the 23-year-old, who was born in Liverpool, and with Norway in with a chance of qualifying for the first time since 1998 (and for just the fourth time in their history), he cannot let this opportunity go to waste.
Solbakken is more than aware of Aasgaard’s situation, and with the Championship set to be ultra-competitive in 2025/26, it could be the perfect way for him to prepare for the greatest football competition in the USA next summer.
The Norway manager said (via: VG): “League One is too low a level. Championship is no problem, with his development that level is good enough, but with League One, that’s where it stops. There are many leagues he can play in. He is a versatile midfielder with good qualities both offensively and defensively.”