Manchester United's Brazilian midfielder #18 Casemiro (L) and Rosenborg's Norwegian midfielder #41 midfielder Sverre Nypan vie for the ball
Manchester United's Brazilian midfielder #18 Casemiro (L) and Rosenborg's Norwegian midfielder #41 midfielder Sverre Nypan vie for the ball
Rosenborg teenager Sverre Nypan has the potential to emulate the achievements of his compatriots Erling Haaland and Martin Odegaard, but he is not ready for a move to Manchester United yet.
That is the frank view from Norwegian football experts, who believe a bridge move to a club like Benfica or Brentford would be the ideal next step in the 17-year-old's career.
Nypan has taken the Norwegian Eliteserien by storm this season and has 14 goals and assists in the Norwegian top flight.
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Given his age, his form has alerted his availability to some of European football's top clubs and Manchester United are among the teams being linked with a winter move for the attacking midfielder.
However, despite already 'outgrowing' the Norwegian league, there is a fear a move to a big club so soon will stunt the Norway under-21 international's development.
"In our opinion Sverre Nypan is one of if not the best player in Eliteserien," Matthew and Anker from Football Norway told the Manchester Evening News.
"What he contributes to the Rosenborg side is something that's going to severely hurt them when he leaves. He's strong, plays with both feet, has high work rate, has incredible vision and is very versatile.
"Rosenborg were looking like a relegation contender in the early stages of the season, and their only bright light was Nypan. At the age of 17, he plays with extreme confidence and looks comfortable every time he touches the ball.
"However, he is still a very young player and we are afraid that if United do end up buying him, he will become one of the wasted talents. He's at a phase in his career where he needs first team football to grow and become a pillar for the future."
"Nypan has already, or is on his way to ‘outgrow’ the level of the Norwegian League, and it would come as no surprise if he is spoken in the same way Ødegaard and Haaland are now," the pair added.
"However, he must be given time to develop as he is still very young, and he needs first team football. We’d be scared for his growth if he jumped straight from Rosenborg to one of the big Premier League clubs, or any of the top clubs in the other big European leagues.
"We’d prefer it, for his growth, if he went to a Brentford or Benfica type of club for a couple of years and then make the jump to one of the big boys."
Dan Ashworth was known for having a keen eye on some of the best young talents in the world during his time at Brighton and a move for Nypan would certainly fit the same mould now he is in place as United's sporting director.
Reports have claimed United may try to steal a march on their rivals and potentially make their move in January. Despite the short term concerns that surround a deal in Norway, Nypan has been backed to be a success at a club with the stature of United in the long term.
"Yes," Matthew and Anker replied when asked if Nypan would be a success at a club like United.
"Maybe not immediately as he still needs time to settle and become a better version of himself. However, he is rapidly improving, has a winning mentality, and already being as good as he is at 17 leaves a lot of room for improvement.
"As we previously mentioned, we have no doubts he will be one of Norway's biggest stars of this generation, and will be playing at the highest levels in the game, it just depends if that’s now or in a few more years."
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