EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - AUGUST 17: Hearts' Cammy Devlin and Rosenborg's Sverre Halseth Nypan during a UEFA Conference League Qualifier between Heart of Midlothian and Rosenborg at Tynecastle Park, on August 17, 2023, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Paul Devlin/SNS Group via Getty Images)
Aston Villa are close to finalizing a deal for Norwegian star Sverre Nypan, as reported by transfer guru Fabrizio Romano.
The club have all but wrapped up personal terms for the talented 18-year-old, and will now enter club-to-club talks with Rosenborg.
Nypan caught the world’s attention with his dazzling displays last season, scoring eight goals and supplying eight assists across 28 games in the Eliteserien. So much so that the player was heavily linked to a move to Arsenal during last winter’s transfer window, with the NY times reporting that personal terms were nearly agreed at the time.
The player is also said to have been in talks with Villa as early as then, as well as Girona.
Breaking through
Nypan draws comparisons to his compatriot Martin Odegaard not only for his poise on the ball and passing ability, but for his prodigal youth career. Nypan joining Rosenborg in 2022, training with the first team while still aged just 14. A year later he became a Norway U21 international.
The record for the youngest player in Eliteserien history still stands with Odegaard at 15 years and 118 days — only besting Nypan by 204 days — with Nypan debuting at 15 years and 322 days.
Despite the similarities, Nypan is slightly different to Odegaard. More of a box to box midfielder, Nypan excels at driving with the ball and tends to cover more ground than his international captain.
High flying Villa
Should the Villans get the deal over the line, it will be interesting to see where Nypan fits into Unai Emery’s set up. Emery will be spoiled for choice with an engine room already consisting of the likes of Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, Jacob Ramsey, Amadou Onana and Boubacar Kamara.
Many have speculated that Emery could opt for a duel eight pivot with Nypan alongside Morgan Rogers behind Tielemans in the number 10 slot. Much could depend on outgoings at Villa park as well, with the futures of several players still up in the air.
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