Arsenal are hopeful of fending off interest from fellow Premier League clubs to snap up Rosenborg starlet Sverre Nypan, talkSPORT understands.
The Gunners are in advanced talks with the Norwegian side to bring the teenage playmaker to the Emirates Stadium.
While the deal isn’t in the closing stages of completion, it is Arsenal who are the frontrunners to secure his services.
Both Aston Villa and Brighton are also admirers of the 18-year-old, who is regarded as one of the brightest prospects in Europe.
Meanwhile LaLiga outfit Girona are also interested in the youngster in the race to sign the player tipped as the ‘next Martin Odegaard‘.
Recent reports have stated that Manchester City are in the running to land the attacking midfielder.
Nypan was present at the Etihad Stadium to watch the Citizens’ 3-1 win over Chelsea on Saturday evening.
He even shares the same agent as City striker and compatriot Erling Haaland in Rafaela Pimenta.
But talkSPORT understands that Pep Guardiola‘s men will not be making a move for Nypan before the February 3 deadline.
Instead, their Premier League title rivals Arsenal are confident that it will be them that wins the race for Nypan to see him join Norway captain Odegaard at London Colney.
It is believed that Nypan would instantly become part of Mikel Arteta‘s first-team squad, where he would add much-needed creativity in the middle of the park.
Able to operate as a No. 8 or as a No. 10, Nypan would likely be deployed as a left-sided central midfielder should he link up in north London.
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Regarded as Norway’s next big star after Haaland and Odegaard, Nypan burst onto the scene in 2022.
In November of that year, he created Rosenborg history by becoming the club’s youngest player having made his senior debut at the age of 15 years and 322 days.
Just six months later, he became their youngest goalscorer in the league at just 16 years and 145 days.
And in the recent 2024 Eliteserien campaign, he chipped in with an impressive eight goals and seven assists in 28 matches.
His dazzling displays saw him win the Eliteserien Young Player of the Season award for the second year running.
With fellow teenagers in Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly given regular game time under Arteta, Nypan could be the latest teenager to make his name at the Emirates.
