United pull out of race for incredible talent who’d looked certain to come to Old Trafford – report

Manchester United have been ruled out of the running for Rosenborg wonderkid Sverre Nypan, according to reports in his native Norway.

Nypan is one of the hottest properties in Europe and hopes were high that the 18-year-old could be Ruben Amorim’s first signing as United boss, with a January swoop reported last month to be firmly on the cards.

However, United’s hopes of landing the young midfielder have been torpedoed by a report from TV 2, who claim that the race for Nypan’s signature is “nearing a conclusion”, but that United are no longer part of it.

TV 2 wax lyrical about Nypan, stating that the “great talent can choose more or less freely among the biggest leagues in the world”, and notes that the Premier League is a “hot destination”.

But while Arsenal and Manchester City are both named as potential suitors, United are said to have fallen out of contention.

“Manchester United is also among the clubs that have long been pointed out as a potential new club for Nypan,” the report explains.

“But according to TV 2’s information, the Reds from Manchester are not among the remaining candidates.”

The gist of the report is that Nypan’s camp are eager to wrap up the youngster’s future and “have a decision ready within the next few weeks”.

The Norwegian football season ended in November, with Rosenborg finishing fourth. Nypan contributed eight goals and seven assists, to bring his first-team totals up to 13 goals and 11 assists in 60 appearances.

TV 2 are not clear as to whether United have pulled out of a move for the player or whether he and his entourage have decided against a switch to Old Trafford.

It’s unlikely that Nypan himself has discounted the Red Devils as his next club, having revealed last year that it would be “a dream come true to play for Manchester United.”

But as purse-strings tighten at Old Trafford, it’s possible INEOS have balked at Rosenborg’s £11m valuation of their starlet.

Joe Ponting

Joe has spent more than half his life writing about football and all of it following United. As a child he told a doctor his name was ‘Paul Scholes’, but could never pick a pass like him no matter how much he tried.