Feyenoord land Rovers target

Feyenoord have snapped up former Blackburn Rovers target Alexander Ostlund from Hammarby.

The Sweden international had caught the eye of Rovers boss Mark Hughes in November and there were rumours the Premiership club would make an offer for the right back.

But Hughes has opted not to pursue his interest and that has enabled Feyenoord to nip in and sign Ostlund.

The defender has penned a four-and-a-half year contract at De Kuip and his arrival in Rotterdam ends Feyenoord's protracted search for a new stopper.

The Dutch giants had failed with bids for Juventus' Igor Tudor, Liverpool's Stephane Henchoz and Romania international Cosmin Contra, who is on loan at West Brom from Atletico Madrid.

With Song Chong-gug leaving De Kuip to return to South Korea, Feyenoord had been anxious to fill the void and have settled on Ostlund.

In addition to Ostlund's capture, Feyenoord have also brought forward the signing of Nicky Hofs from Vitesse Arnhem.

Hofs had signed a pre-contract with Feyenoord to join Ruud Gullit's side in the summer when he would have been available on a Bosman.

But, following Thomas Buffel's sale to Rangers, Gullit has agreed to pay a nominal amount to Vitesse to land the midfielder now.