Citizens have high hopes for young star

MIDDLESBROUGH have used good relations with Manchester City to secure the eye-catching loan deal of midfield starlet Sverre Nypan.

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City have high hopes for the versatile midfield star, but see Boro as an ideal environment for him to develop and learn the English game.

Boro spent time scouting Nypan last season before realising that they were too late as Premier League and top European clubs caught on to his potential.

But with Boro and City having longstanding good relations in recent years that are believed to stem from Neil Bausor's friendship with the City Group's Durham-born managing director of global football Brian Marwood, Boro were able to convince the Premier League side to send Nypan, pictured above, to Teesside for a year.

Despite being just 18, Nypan has already made over 70 appearances for Rosenborg after rising through their youth ranks. An attack-minded midfielder, Nypan looks robust for his age and can also play further up the pitch, having developed a reputation for arriving in and around the box to score.

Upon signing Nypan last month, City director of football Hugo Viana said: “Sverre is an exciting young player that the club has been monitoring for quite some time now. We feel that he already has numerous standout qualities but that at only 18 years of age, he is only going to continue to improve.

“We believe he will be an important asset for Manchester City in the years to come and we will support him every step of the way in his development.”