Man Utd close to completing transfer deal for Norwegian midfielder

Manchester United are in negotiations with Norway international midfielder Lisa Naalsund, according to reports in her homeland.

The 27-year-old currently plays her football in the Norwegian top tier with Brann but is expected to leave in the coming weeks after failing to agree to a new contract with the club who she first joined in 2019 and reports say United are ready to swoop in with an offer. One of Brann’s star players, the club were hopeful of keeping Naalsund but she had reportedly turned down a contract in December, telling BA “an extension would mean that I will stay for the rest of my career. I don’t think the offer was good enough for that.”

Shortly afterwards Bergens Tidende reported the player was subject of a bid of a 1 million Krone bid from AS Roma, but it appears Marc Skinner’s United may have stolen a merch on the Italian giants with BA confirming that Brann are now in negotiations with United over a package to bring Naalsund to the club for around £160,000.

The player was expected to be part of Norway’s Euro 2022 squad but suffered an injury prior to the tournament that curtailed her involvement and forced her to withdraw. She did return to fitness shortly after the tournament though and has since featured for her side in the UEFA Women’s Champions League earlier this season.

Should United complete the deal, as widely reported, it would throw into doubt the future of midfielders Lucy Staniforth and Vilde Boe Risa, both of whom are out of contract in the summer and are understood to be looking for more game time.