AFC Wimbledon have snapped up highly-rated Brentford striker Marcus Forss on a season-long loan deal.
The 20-year-old, who today signed a new contract at Griffin Park, has been given an opportunity at Wimbledon to score more goals in the EFL after ending last season with a superb individual effort against Preston in the Championship. Marcus, who has made 12 first-team appearances for Brentford, also started this season in scoring form with a goal in the EFL Cup tie against Cambridge United.
Speaking about the signing of Marcus, Wally Downes outlined the reasons why he believes Marcus will be a big asset in the coming months.
“Marcus is a young player who will come into the fray,” said the manager. “He’s very quick and has an eye for goal. They tell me that in training he’s right up there with the best finishers that Brentford have got. I am highly delighted to have Marcus on board.
“There was a lot of haggling for us and a lot of goodwill from Brentford (for this to happen). It was difficult to get it done, but they were very helpful towards us. He was more than pleased to come and it was just about us getting as good a deal as we could. He’s not a traditional big number nine in the James Hanson bracket, but they are incredibly expensive to find for us, at the level we are at. Everyone is after big centre forwards and they cost a bit. Marcus is fine in the air, but he has attributes that are different to a traditional number nine. In particular, he is quick, and he scores goals.”
Marcus, who has already scored at the Cherry Red Records Stadium, after scoring in a pre-season friendly against us for Brentford in July, will wear the number 15 shirt for Wimbledon.
Brought up in Finland, his displays as a teenager in his homeland brought him to the attention of West Brom and he signed for them as a 13-year-old, before making the switch to Brentford in 2017.
Marcus met Wally and his team-mates at the training ground today and conducted his first interview as an AFC Wimbledon player. Take a look below at Marcus getting used to his new surroundings at New Malden.