TTLB OPINION: With Arsenal out of the way, Tottenham should be all in on Modric-like midfielder

At Tottenham everything is about building but in a sustainable way, and we have seen club chairman Daniel Levy trying to seriously build a side that has the capacity to compete for silverware regularly but also a roster that is future-proofed, and we have seen how the Lilywhites have shifted their transfer policy into bringing in young players with gleaming potential and then nurturing them along the corridors at Hotspur Way, and the North Londoners are expected to do so in the upcoming summer transfer window as well, and that is exactly why the chiefs at N17 cannot afford to hesitate on Sverre Nypan. With Arsenal reportedly cooling their interest in bringing the Rosenborg prodigy to London, the path should now be clear, and Spurs should not blink.

Speaking about Nypan, let’s get one thing straight: he is definitely not your squad depth signing, but the Norwegian is more of a long-term midfield anchor who can go on to define the Lilywhites’ second phase evolution under Ange Postecoglou.

Before I get into the depth of his quality, let’s start with the basic question – who is Sverre Nypan?

He is just eighteen (18), but Sverre Nypan is already the best teenage central midfielder in Scandinavia. At the moment, the teenager is Rosenborg’s engine from the middle of the park, the conductor, as well as the problem-solver who plays in that number eight (#8) role like he has had his grooming footsteps in La Masia rather than Trondheim.

If we are talking about what sets the Norwegian apart, it is not just his raw ability – it’s also his decision-making when facing pressure. If you look at how he operates, the teenager reads rhythm like a seasoned pro and seems to never panic when in tight pockets. One of the things that highlights the 18-year-old’s potential is how he is always looking to play through, not around.

If the North Londoners are to sign Nypan, then the roster at N17 will get a player who is technically assured as well as press-resistant (the North Londoners do need both things badly in the middle of the park right now).

Where Does He Fit in Ange’s System?

The North Londoners play in a 2-3-5 build-up under the Australian head coach, but the current system still needs one player – that left-sided controller that has the capacity to dictate tempo as well as break lines when needed – and that is what Nypan brings to the side. See, he is neither a number 10 like Maddison nor a pure No. 6 like Bissouma – the Norwegian is more of a mobile maestro who plays with intelligence.

Why is now the moment to strike a deal for his signatures?

With Arsenal out of the picture, the preferences of the teenager could be easy. Yes, there will be competition from Aston Villa, but the North Londoners’ credentials as a big six should make it easy for Levy to strike a deal. Moreover, Rosenborg are also willing to sell their wonderkid in a deal worth around €15 million (which would be a bargain considering his ceiling).

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Author Opinion

If we consider how the Lilywhites are going about their current project, we know that you don’t build long-term squads capable of competing in the Champions League by waiting for players to explode; you’d rather buy them before they do, and in Sverre Nypan, the North Londoners would be taking one of the smartest midfield bets that the chiefs at Hotspur Way could make in the upcoming summer transfer window. When he comes in, he is not going to demand immediate minutes, but then when you look at this transfer in 18 months, you’ll look around and realise that the Norwegian is the one controlling games (just like how Ødegaard is doing at Arsenal), and he is not just surviving in them.

With Arsenal stepping aside, Daniel Levy needs to do something about this transfer – this one isn’t just a headline grabber; it has the capacity to become more than that. This is Tottenham getting a Luka Modric-like player before Modric hit Spurs.