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“The saga including John Obi Mikel, Lyn, Manchester United and Chelsea is not over. Mikel, who was expected to rejoin the Norwegian side last week, but that did not happen. The Norwegian club planned to write a report to FIFA again where they demanded that Mikel had to return to Norway.

“Lyn have now decided to let Mikel play the upcoming national team match for Nigeria. Dagbladet.no informs that Mikel accepted to join his team mates in Norway 14 days ago, but he never showed up. Lyn will now try to bring him to Norway after the national team battle.”

From Utd’s site:

Mads Timm has joined Norwegian side FC Lyn Oslo on loan until the end of 2005. The 20-year-old forward, born in Odense in Denmark, has made one appearance for the Reds, coming on as a substitute in the Champions League against Maccabi Haifa in 2002.

United fans will know FC Lyn as the club from which the Reds thought they had acquired Nigerian midfielder John Obi Mikel. That transfer remains unresolved, although the football authorities have ordered Mikel to return to Norway.

FC Lyn are surprise contenders for the Norwegian title race this year. Lyn's coach, former United defender Henning Berg, has combined exciting young talent with experienced campaigners to take his side third behind leader IK Start and second-placed Valerenga IF after 19 games played.

Timm becomes the eleventh player to be sent out on loan.

The United players out on loan are: Ben Foster (Watford), David Jones (Preston), David Bellion (West Ham), Paul McShane (Brighton), Jonathan Spector (Charlton), Chris Eagles (Sheffield Wednesday), Phil Picken (Chesterfield), Colin Heath, Tom Heaton (Swindon), Eddie Johnson (Crewe).