Man City swoop in to beat Arsenal to wonderkid transfer despite Gunners visit

Arsenal were among the Premier League clubs pursuing a deal for Sverre Nypan but the talented Rosenborg teenager is now on course to finalise a move to Manchester City

Manchester City are now said to be in pole position to sign Sverre Nypan, the teenage midfield prodigy who has been courted heavily by Arsenal in recent months.

Nypan, 18, was linked with a move back in the January transfer window and Rosenborg have been inundated with interest in the central midfielder. The Norway youth international was always likely to move in the summer after initially staying put and the chase for his signature is now nearing a conclusion.

City, renowned for hoovering up Europe’s top talent, were not among the cluster of clubs pursuing a deal for Nypan back in January.

But the former Premier League champions are now the favourites to sign him, with The Athletic claiming that an agreement which will see Nypan become the most expensive footballer in the history of Norwegian league is now close.

Nypan will be sent out on loan to further his development rather than linking up with City straight away, the report adds, with talks over a final agreement continuing.

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Missing out on Nypan to a domestic rival will sting Arsenal, who remain avid admirers of the talented youngster. They even hosted him at their training ground but failed to convince Nypan to sign earlier this year.

Aston Villa also made their pitch for the midfielder after sending delegates to Norway. They too, though, returned empty-handed and look set to miss out on the supremely talented Norwegian.

City have wasted little time in doing business since the transfer window opened earlier this month: they have already completed deals for Rayan Ait-Nouri, Tijjani Reijnders and Rayan Cherki.

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A deal for Marcus Bettinelli to join the club as their new third-choice goalkeeper ahead of Scott Carson’s exit at the end of the month has also been wrapped up.

All four of City’s new signings have been included in their squad for the FIFA Club World Cup, which officially gets underway on Sunday.

There is no place, however, for Jack Grealish, who is free to find a new club. The England star, 29, has already been linked with a switch to one of City’s Premier League rivals after falling out of favour at The Etihad this season.

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