Aston Villa have been linked with a move for Sivert Mannsverk, an 18 year-old central midfielder from Norway.
Mannsverk, according to Italian media outlet La Lazio Siamo Noi via Sport Witness , claim that Dean Smith's side are interested in the Sogndal captain.
Villa face competition from Premier League rivals Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion as well as other top clubs across Europe including Italian sides Lazio and Bologna and Dutch giants Ajax.
Mannsverk, who turns 19 in May, has skippered Sogndal to third place in second tier of Norewgian football and has earned comparisons to Sander Berge, the Sheffield United player signed from Genk for £22 million a year ago.
He is also being grouped alongside the next wave of Norwegian talent including Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Braut Haaland.
It is being reported that Mannversk, who is contracted to Sogndal until the end of 2022, will be available for as little as €2m.
Mannversk scored five goals and registered the same amount of assists in 33 games last season.
Capped nine times at Under-18 level for his contract, Mannsversk has scored six goals and contributed seven assists in 51 career matches for Sogndal.
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Four appearances and one goal have come in the UEFA Youth League, the competition for elite youngsters in Europe.
Villa have an academy brimming with talent having recruited Louie Barry from Barcelona, Ben Chrisene from Exeter and Paul Appiah from Chelsea to go with local talent scouted around the Second City.
Should Mannsverk join Villa it is unlikely he would head straight into the first team and could join up with the club's Under-23s, headed up by Mark Delaney.