Fenerbahce close in on Van Hooijdonk

Turkish side Fenerbahce have made significant progress in their attempts to sign on-strike Nottingham Forest forward Pierre Van Hooijdonk.

The club have increased their bid for the Dutchman and are close to opening negotiations with the player to land the World Cup player who is refusing to play again for the English Premiership side in a row over transfer policy. Van Hooijdonk is training with his first club in Holland, NAC Breda, and claimed yeaterday that Forest offered to double his wages at the end of last season if he stayed with them.

Fenerbahce are also considering a bid for the Norwegian midfielder Oyvind Leonhardsen at Liverpool who has failed to win a first team place since his transfer last year from Wimbledon.