Arsenal are locked in two battles with Girona this week, as both clubs meet in the final round of Champions League group games, while the contest to sign Norwegian talent Sverre Nypan comes to a head.
Telegraph Sport reported earlier this month that Arsenal were among the clubs interested in signing the creative midfielder who is seen as one of Europe’s most promising young players and will cost around £10 million.
Girona are also pushing hard to sign the 18-year-old and hope to convince him to move to Spain to continue his development rather than at one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs.
Girona believe that Nypan would immediately be part of their first-team squad and that might not be the case if he joins Arsenal. Their argument is that he is suited to La Liga, and their style of play, but may have to wait his chance to play in the Premier League.
Girona’s interest is intriguing as they are part of the City Football Group which also includes, of course, Manchester City. A quirk of Arsenal’s fixture list is that Mikel Arteta’s side meet Girona before their league game with City this weekend, meaning that they face back-to-back matches against CFG clubs while also competing with the group for Nypan’s signature.
Nypan attended City’s Premier League fixture at home to Chelsea last Saturday where he was a guest in the executive box of fellow Norwegian Erling Haaland.
Accompanying Nypan was Rafaela Pimenta, the agent who represents both him and Haaland and recently brokered the latter’s extraordinary new nine-and-a-half year deal at the Etihad.
Nypan’s father, Arne, was also at the game and later posted a photograph on Instagram of the visit to City.
Sources have insisted that no decision has been made on Nypan’s future with the player, his parents and his representatives visiting and talking to all the clubs who are interested in signing him. He has since spoken to Arsenal.
Nypan, who plays for Rosenborg, is understood to be close to making a final decision on his future ahead of the January transfer window closing on Monday and probably before the weekend. Aston Villa are also believed to be in contention for the Norway youth international, who has made more than 50 appearances in the Norwegian top flight. Sources suggest they have also held talks during the Nypans’ visit to England.
Nypan made his Rosenborg debut at the age of just 15, becoming the youngest ever player to represent the club. In Norway his exciting performances have triggered comparisons with Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, who made his first-team breakthrough at a similar age in the same country.
Arsenal hope to confirm their place in the Champions League top eight, and therefore avoid the play-off round, knowing that they only need a draw against Girona to make certain. Even if they lose it would take a highly unlikely series of results to deny them qualification.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have submitted an appeal to have Myles Lewis-Skelly’s controversial red card against Wolves overturned. Lewis-Skelly was shown a straight red in the first half of Arsenal’s victory at Molineux on Saturday for a foul on Matt Doherty, to the disbelief of their players and coaches and the confusion of many pundits. Arteta said after the match that the decision was “so obvious that you don’t need my words”.
