Manchester United’s pursuit of football’s next generation of superstars has started pretty strongly since Ineos took over the Premier League giants.
Chido Obi-Martin became the Premier League U18s all-time record goalscorer at the weekend, a penalty in that 3-0 win over Stoke City taking him onto 37 from just 23 games. Obi-Martin has averaged a goal-a-match for Manchester United since he was lured away from Arsenal over the summer.
United fought off competition from across Europe for James Overy and Samuel Lusale, too.
Sekou Kone is furthering comparisons with Yaya Toure, meanwhile, as he takes the Man City legend’s number 42 shirt at Carrington. And then there’s Leny Yoro; the 18-year-old central defender who, at £52 million, is perhaps the biggest coup Man United have pulled off in recent memory.
United are not finished there, however. River Plate winger Franco Mastantuono could follow in Yoro’s footsteps by turning down Real Madrid for the Red Devils. Sunderland midfielder Chris Rigg is another United want.
And then there is Sverre Nypan. The Norwegian whizkid who’s name has barely left the gossip columns in the last year or so.
Sverre Nypan plays down talk of imminent Manchester United move
According to Give Me Sport, Man United lead the race to sign Nypan heading into the New Year. He may be only 17 years of age but a reported transfer fee of £10 million – potentially rising to £20 million – could still be a bargain if, as some have suggested, Nypan can be Man United’s answer to Martin Odegaard.
In 33 games for Rosenborg across the 2024 campaign, Nypan produced 10 goals and eight assists from his advanced midfield role. Odegaard numbers.
Nypan likens himself to Man United cult hero Ander Herrera, meanwhile, due to his ground-covering talents as well as his technical qualities.
Now, reports from both Scandinavia and England have indicated that Nypan’s departure, during the January transfer window, is pretty much a given.
But perhaps not. Not after Rosenborg secured fourth place in the Eliteserien table over the weekend. Thus, ensuring that European football will be back at the Lerkendal Stadium in 2025.
And, when asked by TV2 if European qualification could be enough to keep him at Rosenborg, Nypan suggested that, well, yes it may be.
“It looks like we have won [the league] here now. We have to calm down a bit,” Nypan laughs amid wild celebrations. “[But] I really want to [stay] when I see it here.
“It’s only a fourth place. It’s not a series gold, so it doesn’t mean much. We aim higher than that.”
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Man United may have to loan Nypan back to Rosenborg
Of course, this does not mean Manchester United’s hopes of striking a deal in January are over for the time being.
Rosenborg are still likely to take the chance to cash in, and make Nypan the most expensive export in their history.
There is also the possibility that Man United could sign Nypan and let him spend the 2025 season on loan at his beloved Rosenborg, in the hope that European action and regular first-team minutes will do more for his development than a season in the Red Devils’ Under 23 ranks.
But, with Nypan clearly bewitched by the jubilant atmosphere at Rosenborg, luring the teenager away may be a more difficult challenge than initially expected.
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