Aston Villa pushing for Arsenal target Sverre Halseth Nypan | OneFootball

Aston Villa wasted no time reinforcing their squad for the second half of the season, sealing deals for Donyell Malen and Andres Garcia in the January transfer window.

The Villains are still looking to bring more players through the door as they push for a deep run in the UEFA Champions League and a top-four finish in the Premier League.

Rosenborg jewel Sverre Halseth Nypan is another name the Birmingham club is trying to bring to Villa Park. Even though he has been tipped to join Arsenal, the Villans are reportedly providing stiff competition for his signature.

The Norwegian talent has attracted attention from top European clubs following his extraordinary showings for his boyhood club.

The 18-year-old made his senior debut at 15 and has gradually become a mainstay in the first team, recording eight goals and seven assists in 28 league appearances in 2024.

Before that, he registered five goals and one assist in 23 outings. He has shown steady improvement and is ready to take one of the top European leagues by storm.

The Norway under-21 international can slot in behind Ollie Watkins at Villa, deputising for Morgan Rogers. Villa are reportedly trying to sign Joao Felix from Chelsea, but Nypan would be the wiser choice even though the Portuguese star is more established.

Villa are backing themselves to offer a persuasive package and potentially more regular and immediate first-team football.

At Arsenal, Nypan may not see enough first-team action with captain Martin Odegaard occupying his favoured advanced midfield position. The same happened with Fabio Vieira, who eventually returned to FC Porto after struggling to get a look-in.

Winning the race for Nypan’s signature would be a statement of intent from Villa, proving they can compete with Europe’s elite for top young talent.

With Unai Emery at the helm and the club’s ambitious project taking shape, the Villans are building a squad capable of challenging on multiple fronts. If they can secure Nypan’s services, he could be the next rising star to thrive at Villa Park.