Sverre Nypan began attracting interest from many top clubs in 2022, when he became the youngest player ever to represent Rosenborg at 15 years and 322 days.
On 13 May 2023, Nypan scored his first goal for Rosenborg against Bodø/Glimt in the Eliteserien, making him the youngest ever goalscorer in the league, aged 16 years and 145 days.
Many clubs tried to sign him last summer, but he joined Manchester City for €15m and was immediately loaned to Middlesbrough.
Just six months later, Manchester City recalled the youngster due to his limited game time with the EFL Championship side.
In this Sverre Nypan scout report, we will examine how he has been playing over the past six months, how he could fit into the Man City squad, and which club would be best for his development, given that another loan is likely.
Sverre Nypan Vision
Sverre Nypan is very ambitious on the ball.
He’s a great scanner, and once the ball is at his feet, he knows what his next move is.
He has been referred to as a Kevin De Bruyne-esque talent due to his vision and ambition to play forward.
He’s great at reading his teammates’ runs and knowing where to place the pass.
You can see it time and time again where he looks to play in behind.
For a club like Manchester City, this is exactly what they need to feed players like Erling Haaland, who, at times, looks frustrated due to the lack of midfielders playing forward in behind.
Although Rayan Cherki is helping out in this role now, Nypan can also be of assistance.
One issue with his ambitious passes is that the weight and speed are off.
It is either too slow or too fast, or just a bit short or a bit over on the weight.
The Premier League is fast-paced, and Nypan often feels pressure from defenders and tends to miss passes by a hair, but the idea is usually sound and can be executed well with more playing time.
Sverre Nypan Positioning
Sverre Nypan is more of a No. 10 but can slot into an 8 role or roam around where the 8s would be.
That’s because he understands his positioning in midfield very well.
Nypan is the player marked in red here, and he knows where to centre himself to break the lines.
He positions himself behind the opponent’s midfield block and is ready to quickly release the ball to the player in front.
This is the type of player Manchester City wants: a midfielder who can roam into other spaces effectively without dropping level.
You won’t typically see him this deep near the 6 position, like in this image.
But because of his intelligence and positioning in midfield, he can drop in and out of those spaces, and once again, he knows where his passing options are before he touches the ball.
Sverre Nypan In The Final Third
Sverre Nypan likes to use the space in front of him in the final third through dribbling and penetration.
At times, he takes one step too many, and the chance to play the ball now passes.
Sverre Nypan is known for his “la pausa”, but it feels like he has lost that touch playing in England.
The delay appears to be a second too long before releasing it.
Nypan has very ambitious passing, great vision, and excellent ideas; he takes this into the final third as well.
Some midfielders can only execute long-range passes in midfield transitions, side-to-side switches, or from the 6 to a winger.
Nypan can send these exact passes and translate them into final, game-changing passes in the third.
He doesn’t stop after the first attempt fails; he keeps trying these ambitious passes until it clicks.
Sverre Nypan Ball Carrying
Sverre Nypan is an effective dribbler in tight spaces, and part of that is his ability to use his body to shield the ball.
Not only is he a great tight-space dribbler on the width, but he’s a great ball carrier and can break the lines with his strides forward.
He takes space head-on, tries to dribble through any opening, and is extremely good at accelerating and turning away from opponents while maintaining his spacing.
Sverre Nypan Fit At Manchester City
Manchester City have been working all season to strengthen their attacking options, signing wingers and strikers.
The addition of Cherki significantly strengthens their attack, given the need for a KDB replacement in the creative department.
They have Phil Foden, Rayan Cherki and, at times, Bernardo Silva for the No 10 role, but given that the latter is rumoured to leave this summer, they may even lose that option.
Nypan could very well fit in as a backup player and rotate into the squad, but play extended minutes in the FA Cup or Carabao Cup.
It certainly wouldn’t be a place he would start day in, day out just yet, but he can rotate into the 10 position.
Cherki and Foden are players who can drop in and out of spaces from left wing-back to the 10 or right wing-back to the 10, and Nypan can also rotate in those spaces as well.
He could start at number 10 and push either Foden or Cherki out wide, and Pep Guardiola tactics would give them the freedom to drop back centrally when they want to, since they play best there.
Nypan himself has played wide over the past 6 months and can rotate into those spaces as well.
Ideal Loan Destination
A club I think Sverre Nypan can fit in very well with is Borussia Dortmund.
They lost that creativity in Marco Reus, and Jadon Sancho is no longer there, who would also at times play as the 10.
Right now, their main midfield consists of Julian Brandt, Felix Nmecha, and Jobe Bellingham.
Although they can all temporarily play the No. 10 role, only Julian Brandt is the primary number 10.
The addition of Sverre Nypan could add a different dynamic.
Either Brandt or Nypan could move into a second-striker role and play behind Serhou Guirassy, providing a direct supplier for their main striker, who can thrive on goals with support.
Borussia Dortmund is also known for developing young talent.
Here, he can get consistent playing time in a top-flight league, bring his technical ability and ambitious playing style, excel, help the club improve their standings temporarily, and then return to Manchester City.
Conclusion
Sverre Nypan has a very high ceiling and could go down as a club legend for the club he has stayed at the longest.
Teaming up with Erling Haaland for Norway can help the country rise in the rankings and compete internationally.
That chemistry can translate to Manchester City if both stay long-term, making them a potentially lethal duo.
Manchester City are looking for the X-factor they once had in KDB, and Sverre Nypan could well be the one, but it will take a few more years for him to develop and show what he can bring to the club.
He certainly remains a player to watch, and Manchester City will most likely be shipping him off on another loan to get consistent minutes, as clubs will be watching for the opportunity to add him to their squad for that loan spell.
