Nathan Opoku is on loan at OH Leuven for the season, as the tall forward is expected to progress further. This season start has not gone as expected, with only one point of nine after three games, still Opoku has one goal and one assist so far, so from a personal view, he might be satisfied, but surely not from a teams perspective.
OH Leuven looks to be landing Erling Haaland cousin Jonatan Braut Brunes from Norwegian club Stromsgodset, as the 23 year old goalscorer looks to take his next step in the game, moving to Belgium, as he looks to have turned down Riyad Mahrez former club, Le Havre, competing in French Ligue 1.
Akor Adams who at one time this summer was linked with Leicester, made a switch to Montpellier instead, joining them from Eliteserien club Lillestrom, the move taking place just after Stephy Mavidivi left and moved back to England becoming a Leicester player.
Akor Adams made his Ligue 1 debut today, scoring 2 goals, as Montpellier drew 2-2 with Le Havre. Montpellier struggled from start, being 2-0 down, until Adams striked in the 58th and 60th minute. Ligue 1 is a level above Norwegian football, but it looks as if the Nigerian has the abilities to take on this challenge with ease.
Looking at the start Stephy Mavididi has had at Leicester, we should not complain at all, but would have been interesting to see how Akor Adams had done if he had signed, as Norwegian football looks to bring forward good quality talent following in the foot steps of Erling Haaland (Man City), Martin Odegaard (Arsenal), Kristoffer Ajer (Brentford) and Sander Berge (Burnley) all in action for their clubs Premier League openers this weekend.
Norwegian top clubs base their recruitment, mostly on talents, from lower league teams, as well as bringing in players from Iceland, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Clubs also works closely with academies in African countries, to try to bring forward players from this continent as they looks to melt in well in the Norwegian invironment. They look to Norway as a country to use for development and getting a comfortable and safe development in a solid society and environment.
Chelsea signing David Datro Fofana, coming in from Molde in January, this season being on loan at Union Berlin, is an example of a player signed directly from Africa, adapting well and taking on the challenge of the Norwegian top flight still in his teens. He was fast becoming a feared forward, attracting interest from the very best clubs in Europe, as the move to Stamford Bridge shows how work can be done in developing talent in Norwegian football.
There are a lot of young players that soon will be picked up. Dutch and German clubs are active in their scouting up here, also clubs in Denmark, Poland, Italy, Austria, Scotland and France are frequently signing players directly from Norwegian football.
One major move happening this summer, Kristian Lien , the top scorer of the Norwegian 2nd tier at that point, joined Dutch club Groningen, so even players from a mid table club up here can attract interest.
The recent progress of Bodo Glimt, doing well in Europe, has seen the interest again reaching the top levels of Europe, and also Norway doing well in U.19 and U.21 Euro’s, reaching the finals, is a major boost and of course also giving the younger players a good window.
Looking at the recent games and this years league, what players have taken the most steps in Norwegian football this season? There are several to mention. Midfielder Markus Solbakken (23), the son of Norway national coach Stale Solbakken, looks very exciting as his goals and play have helped Viking to the top of the league. Danish midfielder, Albert Gronback (22), from Bodo Glimt is another player with an exciting future. 16 year old midfielder Sverre Nypan of Rosenborg is one special to watch, a raw diamond, a full international in the making. 18 year old Marius Sivertsen Bruholm also Rosenborg property, currently on loan at Kristiansund, must also get his mentioning.
Another player that has come on to the top flight schene this season is Jakob Napoleon Romsaas (19). His touch and goalscoring shows great promise, being in his first season at Tromso, and with his special middle name, getting attention, having Napoleon up front, can’t be wrong.
At last we would also bring forward the name of Norway U.19 captain Vetle Walle Egeli, as he has established himself as the certain right back choice of Sandefjord.
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