Manchester United have set a strategy this transfer window which many expected would be the case, a focus on youth.
18-year-old Leny Yoro is the marquee signing, while Joshua Zirkzee is only 23. Matthijs de Ligt, 25, and Noussair Mazraoui, 26, are also bought with their best years ahead of them.
Behind the scenes, six academy players have been signed, including Chido Obi-Martin and Samuel Lusale, both just 16. And now 18-year-old Seko Kone is set to join them.
That number might be even higher, if there were not restrictions on signing foreign talent under 18, as once allowed the club to scoop up a young Alejandro Garnacho.
Sverre Nypan shows quality
Manchester United’s first signing of 2025 should already be pencilled in for Ineos. It’s a move which cannot be done right now, due to the player’s age.
Rosenborg’s Sverre Nypan is 17, and turns 18 in mid-December. When the next transfer window opens on January 1, Manchester United can finally move.
Nypan is already making a big impact. He made his Eliteserien debut for Rosenborg when he was just 15, netting his first at 16.
This past week he scored his first professional hat-trick, leading his side to a 4-0 victory over United coach Andreas Georgson’s former side Lillestrom.
The last 17-year-old to score a hat-trick in the Eliteserien was Erling Haaland, and he has managed to do it while 99 days younger than former Molde striker.
At this point it’s useful to issue a reminder that Nypan is an attacking midfielder, and not a striker. In 18 games this league season, Nypan has scored five goals and scored five assists.
He has 10 senior goals in 50 Rosenborg games, which including a brace against Hearts in Europa Conference League qualifiers last month.
Norway under-19s international Nypan is a potential Bruno Fernandes successor, one who Manchester United have had their eye on.
- READ MORE: Manchester United confirmed signings, transfers in, out, loan exits, releases for 2024/25
Nypan impressed against Manchester United
Sverre Nypan has already shown Manchester United first-hand what he is capable of, impressing for Rosenborg in their friendly against the Red Devils in July, in front of Erik ten Hag.
He played 45 minutes against United, creating two chances, and also dodged a challenge from Casemiro which left the Brazilian sliding on the turf.
United have been scouting Nypan since 2023, and foreign outlet Fussball News reports the midfielder is on the radar of technical director Jason Wilcox.
Already in his career, Nypan has been compared to Frenkie de Jong and Martin Odegaard, while in a recent interview, he likens himself more to Ander Herrera in style.
Nypan is a United supporter, talking up his admiration for Cristiano Ronaldo, and Robin van Persie.
In an interview with United’s Norwegian supporter’s club, he admitted his long-term goal is to sign with the Red Devils.
“It is of course something you dream of as a United fan. Every time you go to training, you have that in the back of your mind.”
Unless Ineos can work some magic with an agreement now and a loan-back, or a switch to Lausanne or Nice, this move will have to wait until January.
Then it will be possible to bring Nypan to Old Trafford, and his progress is making him hard to ignore. A deal for the young Norwegian maestro should be the first business United do in the next transfer window.
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