Borussia Dortmund pose transfer threat for Manchester City in midfielder chase

Yahoo

17-07-2025

Manchester City are facing a fresh threat over their pursuit of Norwegian midfield talent Sverre Nypan, according to reports from Germany.
Even with an agreement reportedly in place, competition is never far away, and Bundesliga giants Borussia Dortmund are now said to be testing Manchester City's resolve in one of their priority youth targets.
City have long made it an important task to snap up elite youth prospects early in their development cycle, a strategy that has brought in top names from South America in particular during recent windows.
The idea from within the Etihad Stadium is clear: acquire early, develop internally or via loan moves elsewhere in Europe, and avoid the inflated price tags that follow a breakout campaign in one of Europe's top-five leagues.
That model appears to be in motion once again in their pursuit of Sverre Nypan — an 18-year-old sensation from Norway who has been on Manchester City's radar since the most-recent winter market.
The teenage midfielder, who is already a regular for Rosenborg in Norway's top-flight, is highly regarded for his technical prowess, composure, and vision — traits that make him an ideal candidate for Manchester City's developmental pipeline.
But according to the information of German newspaper Bild, as translated and relayed by Get German Football News, City are now facing competition from Borussia Dortmund for the in-demand midfielder.
It is claimed that the Bundesliga giants have been actively pursuing the 18-year-old's signature for 'a number of months', and while a move for the player is expected this summer, it remains to be seen who will ultimately come out on top in the race for his signature.
In early June, David Ornstein of The Athletic reported that City had reached an agreement with Rosenborg for a transfer fee of £12.5 million, with no sell-on clause or additional contingencies attached — a sign of the Premier League side's determination to move swiftly.
Contract terms have also reportedly been offered to the midfielder, with a deal running until 2030 on the table. But with Borussia Dortmund still lurking — and their reputation for developing young players well established — the door may not be entirely closed.
Meanwhile, transfer expert Fabrizio Romano offered a deeper insight into City's strategy for the youngster. 'This is a massive one,' Romano stated last month. 'Let's say Manchester City believe this could be the European Franco Mastantuono, in the sense of a top talent available at a good price… Nypan is going to Manchester City. He will go on loan immediately.'
Interestingly, while Girona have been the obvious City Football Group destination for recent loanees at City, Romano claimed the Norwegian playmaker is unlikely to join the La Liga outfit — leaving questions over where his development will be staged next season.
Looking ahead, City now face a delicate balance. While they appear to have wrapped up the logistics of the transfer, the ongoing interest from Borussia Dortmund may still influence the player's final decision.
Nypan and his representatives could yet be swayed by the Bundesliga's track record of integrating young talent into senior teams more quickly than Manchester City — especially if a clearer first-team pathway is on offer.
With pre-season set to get underway later this month and City already involved in negotiations for multiple outgoings, the Nypan deal could still produce late twists. But if all goes to plan, fans may soon see another elite teenage name join the club's ranks.