Aston Villa are pushing to sign Norwegian wonderkid Sverre Halseth Nypan from Rosenborg ahead of Arsenal and Manchester City (h/t the Times).
The 18-year-old midfielder is one of the most sought-after talents in Europe ahead of the summer transfer window.
Nypan announced himself to the rest of the continent with a breakthrough campaign last term, bagging eight goals and 10 assists in 33 games across all competitions.
He has been tipped for a Premier League move, and he’s not short on admirers.
Arsenal and Man City are hot on his trail, but it appears Villa have moved ahead of their Premier League rivals in the pecking order.
Nypan has been likened to his countryman Martin Odegaard, although he’s still waiting for his first call-up to the national team.
On paper, that gives Arsenal the upper hand. But Villa aren’t bothered by those sentiments. They’re making a serious push to sign the youngster.
Sporting director Monchi travelled to Norway on Monday to watch Nypan in action during Rosenborg’s 2-0 win against Valerenga.
There’s still plenty to be done before a deal can be finalised, but Villa are clearly in the driving seat.
They’ve also made a strong impression on the player and his camp.
Arsenal were previously concerned that Nypan may be heading to Girona as a stepping stone to Man City.
Nypan’s father, Arne, visited Birmingham, London and Manchester with his son earlier this year.
Despite the high-profile interest, they decided he should remain at Rosenborg until the summer.
Nypan’s father said his meeting with Villa was informal and shut down rumours about transfer negotiations.
That hasn’t deterred Villa, and they could take things up a notch if they qualify for the Champions League.
