Jeunes Footeux claim Arsenal and Manchester United are battling Eredivisie champions Ajax to sign Molde wonderkid Sivert Mannsverk ahead of the January window – with the midfielder available for a bargain fee of just £9million.
Mannsverk, 20, joined Molde after breaking through at Norwegian side Sogndal – now managed by Tore Andre Flo. Since his move 18 months ago, he has clocked up 62 senior appearances for Molde, at the base of their midfield.
His form has seen him earn a senior call-up to the Norway squad. While he is yet to win a cap, he watched on as Martin Odegaard captained Norway to a 2-1 win over Ireland in November. Odegaard then, will know all about Mannsverk.
The report states that it is a three-way battle between Arsenal, United and Ajax for Mannsverk’s signature. A fee of £9m is required – which would overtake Molde’s record sale. A certain Erling Haaland, costing RB Salzburg a fee of £8m.
Arsenal and Manchester United battling Ajax to sign Mannsverk
The Gunners could do with midfield additions. Thomas Partey has been superb in his role, with Granit Xhaka and Martin Odegaard ahead of him. But behind those three, the options are hardly of top quality under Mikel Arteta.
Mo Elneny has remained. A loyal servant to the Gunners. But you would expect the Egyptian to leave in January, or next summer. Albert Sambi Lokonga has failed to show why the Gunners brought him to London. Fabio Vieira is young.
Glimpses of magic. Mannsverk is more of a Partey, if not a Xhaka. Certainly, not Odegaard. So, he would be replacing Elneny or Lokonga and that is certainly an area in which Arsenal can improve. Is Mannsverk an improvement?
Time will tell. Competition from Manchester United could prove tricky, while a move to Ajax would likely see him get more game time than a move to either the Gunners or United. But Odegaard’s presence might convince Mannsverk.
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