Wonderkid confirms Man Utd transfer 'dream' as record deal inevitable

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Tom Weber | Writer

IFK Goteborg wonderkid Oliver Mansson has admitted that playing for Manchester United would be a "dream" amid growing interest in his services.

The 17-year-old has been the biggest revelation in Swedish football in recent months. Mansson was promoted to Goteborg's first team at the start of the year and began playing regularly over the summer.

The midfielder, who only turned 17 in August, has become a guaranteed starter, and for good reason. When Mansson plays from the beginning, Blavitt are nigh on unbeatable.

The team endured a difficult spring, but they have been in really strong form since the youngster came into the team in July. Goteborg have only lost two of the 13 Allsvenskan matches Mansson has started.

They are unbeaten in nine, with their last loss coming in mid-August. They enjoyed a five-game winning streak between late August and early October, but they have now drawn their last three games.

Mansson confirms Man Utd dream

Speculation over Mansson's future has massively increased in recent weeks as more and more clubs are starting to take notice of the teenager. Arsenal and Chelsea were some of the earliest teams linked with him, while clubs from the Bundesliga, Serie A and the Championship have also joined the race.

When initially quizzed about the transfer rumours a couple of weeks ago, Mansson suggested that it was only social media speculation, but things seem to be getting more and more concrete now.

Sportbladet has confirmed that numerous big-hitters are scouting Mansson, with Man Utd and AS Roma the latest to be associated with a possible move for the Sweden youth international.

The 17-year-old grew up supporting Barcelona, but he admits that playing for a club like Man Utd or Roma would be a "dream." He told the Swedish outlet: "It’s really great that the clubs are here. If they’re watching me, that’s proof to me that I’ve done well.

"But I’m focusing on the here and now. It’s really great, it gives me an extra boost of confidence. Then things often go better on the field, too. They’re huge clubs. Playing for one of them someday is a dream, of course.

Unlike a few weeks ago, Mansson is now becoming increasingly aware of the interest in him. "There are certain clubs that are mentioned [by my representatives]," he explained. "I hear a little here and there. But we all agree to focus on the present."

Record transfer inevitable

The publication also spoke to Goteborg's director of football Jesper Jansson, who is confident that Mansson will become the club's new record sale, beating the €7m transfer of Malick Yalcouye to Brighton in 2024.

The 55-year-old insists that no suitors have as yet made any "concrete" contact for the youngster, but a transfer appears to be inevitable. Jansson claims that he hasn't seen a talent like Mansson since Williot Swedberg broke through at Hammarby as a teenager at the start of the decade.

"We haven’t heard anything concrete, but considering the level he plays at, his intelligence, his style of play - I haven’t seen anything like that in Sweden for a very, very long time. I’ve been around for a while, and the only player I can compare him to is Williot Swedberg.

"No [contact with his suitors], but I think more and more people are starting to take notice of him now. Our team is starting to look like a top-tier team. That means our players are getting more attention, people are seeing the high level at which they can perform, even a guy who just turned 17.”

"If Yalcouye was the biggest transfer before, there are quite a few factors that suggest Oliver Mansson is valued higher on the transfer market. He’s young, plays consistently, has an EU passport and other factors that come into play in that context."

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