Exclusive: Aston Villa backed to sign ‘special talent’ who ‘shares traits’ with Arsenal's Martin Odegaard

Former Premier League striker Tore Andre Flo has backed Aston Villa to complete the signing of Rosenborg wonderkid Sverre Nypan this summer.

Flo, a 76-time former Norway international and a fellow countryman of Nypan’s, believes Villa would be a great destination despite interest from a host of other top Premier League clubs, including Arsenal and Manchester City.

The Villans have been tracking Nypan, one of Europe’s most promising midfield prospects, for over 12 months. It was reported last month that Villa had taken great strides towards bringing Nypan to the club, convincing the teenager that the move to Villa Park would be the right one.

Norway have seen some huge talents emerge over recent years - including Erling Haaland, Martin Odegaard and Antonio Nusa - and now Nypan is being spoken about in the same breath. The 18-year-old has become a star player for Rosenborg and is nearing a senior Norway call-up following five appearances for his nation’s under-21 side.

Nypan wasn’t quite young enough on his Rosenborg debut to displace Odegaard as the youngest player in Eliteserien history, but he wasn’t far off. The teenager made his Rosenborg bow aged just 15 and he has already racked up 64 appearances, 14 goals and 11 assists, totalling 4,490 senior minutes.

Aston Villa encouraged to clinch Sverre Nypan signing

Flo, who played 163 times and scored 50 goals for Chelsea between 1997 and 2000, is the current Norway Under-16 manager. He didn’t take on the role early enough to work with Nypan but he’s been watching the Rosenborg starlet’s progress closely.

Oh, there's a big discussion about him in Norway,” Flo told Birmingham World via goldenpanda.com. “What I can see is that he definitely is a special talent. I feel that Aston Villa could be a great move for him.

“Aston Villa is now one of the bigger clubs in the Premier League as well. I have a feeling that would be a good option for him, but it will be tough no matter where he goes with those clubs that are reportedly interested in signing him.

“They're all good clubs and it can be difficult to get a regular place in the team. But he's a very special talent and it's going to be very fun to watch him develop.”

Plenty of early comparisons have been made between Nypan and Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard. Although Nypan is perhaps more of an all-rounder, there are signs that his technical attributes could one day match those of the Gunners midfielder.

On that comparison, Flo added: “I feel there's a lot of shared traits with Martin Odegaard, like a young Norwegian, nice boy, very professional, talks well, big, big talent, but also has his feet on the ground and knows that.

“It’s going to be tough, but he's aware of it. He's not one of those who just goes around and, ah, this is going to be cool and easy. He trains well and, although I don't know him personally, that's my impression of him. He's a good lad.”