Man Utd snubbed? Surprise clubs ideal for wonderkid compared to De Jong and Odegaard
Yanick Vos
- Updated: 6 Oct 2023 18:38 BST
- 6 min read
Sverre Nypan is only 16 years old and is already a regular player at Rosenborg BK.
The talent is being compared to Frenkie de Jong in his own country because of his playing style and has attracted the attention of the European elite. However, according to data from SciSports, he would be an ideal reinforcement for some rather surprising clubs.
After Martin Ødegaard and Erling Haaland, Norway has the next diamond in waiting with Nypan.
Almost the entire European aristocracy is hunting for the midfielder's signature. Arsenal, Barcelona, Manchester City, Manchester United, Real Madrid and countless other clubs from the largest European leagues are mentioned by various media as having sent their scouts to Norway.
LAMINE YAMAL: Barcelona’s 'next Messi' has the world at his feet
15 years and 322 days
Towards the end of last season, Nypan already secured a permanent starting position at Rosenborg. He was still yet to celebrate his 16th birthday. At 15 years and 322 days, he became the youngest debutant in club history.
In the Eliteserien, there has only been one player who was even younger when he made his debut: Martin Ødegaard was 15 years and 118 days old on his debut for Strømsgodset in 2014. Nypan's debut at Rosenborg was born out of necessity.
While away at FK Jerv, Nypan was thrown into the deep end by his coach. The youngster had impressed in training and with Norway's Under-16s in the weeks before. A day before the match, Kjetil Rekdal confirmed at a press conference that Nypan could get playing minutes against Jerv.
This did not come as a huge surprise for Norwegian football commentator Robin Haugen. He closely followed the talent's achievements in the months before and saw him in action for the Norway U16s. “He stood head and shoulders above the rest during the last international match,” he said in conversation with Nettavisen.
Ødegaard vibes
Nypan showed great things, especially in the match against Belarus at the end of October 2022 (4-0 win), according to Haugen. The midfielder provided two assists.
“He was the mastermind behind everything Norway created. What makes him so crazy is that he sees and understands the game so well, which is simply unique for someone his age. He sees openings that others do not see and is able to make those passes,” said Haugen, who gets 'Ødegaard vibes' when he sees Nypan.
“With Sverre, Norway and Rosenborg have a real gem. It is still early, but with his game and technique it is almost inconceivable that he will not go far.”
Nypan has become a regular starter and has played almost all matches as a starter since the beginning of the season in January. In twenty games in the competition and preliminary round of the Conference League, Nypan scored four goals and notched three assists. Anyone who achieves this at the age of sixteen will automatically have the eyes of the European elite on them.
What makes him so crazy is that he sees and understands the game so well, which is simply unique for someone his age.
- Robin HaugenNypan's data
SciSports data shows that Nypan is a multifunctional midfielder. He is mainly seen as a box-to-box midfielder, a player who contributes both offensively and defensively.
This type of player is often involved in chasing the opponent and usually creates many chances with his passing. Defensively, this type of midfielder is often involved in winning the ball and putting pressure on the opponent.
The right footer can be used in several positions. This season he has already played as a centre forward and winger in the Norwegian league but spent most of his minutes as a controlling midfielder.
In that position, he is one of the top 33 per cent of players in the Eliteserien, according to SciSports. If we zoom in further on his qualities, it appears that he has excelled this season with his dribbling ability and ball-winning.
Nypan is a player who is strong at claiming the ball and does so everywhere on the pitch. He wins the ball relatively rarely in the final third, but when he does, his action creates immediate danger.
SciSkill potential
At the age of sixteen, it is common that not everything goes well right away. This is also reflected in his data. Looking at his areas for improvement, it becomes clear that there is still work to be done in the field of passing and positioning, both defensively and offensively.
But basically, Nypan is an excellent footballer with enormous potential. This is also reflected in his potential of 94.1, an estimate of where the player's peak lies. However, this score is not set in stone and can change with the player's development.
It is exceptional that a player at the age of 16 already has as high a potential as Nypan. If he continues on his trajectory, it cannot be ruled out that his potential will exceed 100 points. This means that he is potentially an absolute top player.
Nypan currently has a SciSkill score of 39.4. This is generally a low score, but that also suits a player of 16 years of age. In the past six months, Nypan's SciSkill has increased by 13.4 points, which SciSports sees as a rapid development.
Transfer in January?
In September, Nypan was rewarded with a new contract until the end of 2026. A combination of his rapid development and new commitment to Rosenborg boosted his Estimated Transfer Value (ETV). Nypan currently has an ETV of €1.2 million.
According to SciSports data, that is the amount the Norwegian youth international should be worth at the moment. The question is whether Rosenborg would let him go for that amount.
The club does not need to sell given his long-term contract, while the interest from top European competitions is so great that a much higher transfer fee cannot be ruled out.
The season in Norway ends in December, just before the winter transfer window opens and a transfer in January seems to be an option for all parties. While the likes of Arsenal and Man Utd are keen on the youngster, these giants are not seen as ideal places for him to develop.
In fact, the only European giants where Nypan would do well are Bayern, who have a Club Fit score of 82, according to SciSports data.
Indeed, the perfect choice for the Nypan would not be to head to the Premier League at his young age but to join a development league like the Eredivisie. Ajax and Feyenoord in particular would be ideal destinations. The player has a Club Fit score of 78 at both clubs.
