Four Top Scandinavian Summer Transfer Targets
With the European transfer window fast approaching, we take a look at some of the top talents from the Allsvenskan and Eliteserien who will no doubt be high up many clubs’ shopping lists this summer.
Bodø/Glimt signed Albert Grønbæk from Danish club Aarhus in August 2022 for what seemed quite a hefty fee of £3.30m at the time. That year wasn’t a particularly great one for Glimt as they lost the Eliteserien title to Molde and narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification to Dinamo Zagreb.
But it soon became apparent they had signed a gem with Grønbæk and he remains one of the hottest properties currently in the Norwegian Eliteserien. After a stellar 2023 campaign the presumption was that he would leave the club in the winter. However, any potential suitors were rebuffed and a contract extension agreed.
Grønbæk plays in Bodø/Glimt’s 4-3-3 system and is officially listed as one of the three central midfielders. He always plays on the left of the trio. With a strong right foot, the definition of his role is something between a mezzala and advanced playmaker. He is someone who ventures forward a lot and cuts inside to the penalty area where he is extremely dangerous.
Grønbæk averages 2.77 shots per 90 mins and has fired in the most attempts out of any player who plays in a similar position to him. His overall shot accuracy of 37.4% is not bad either when you consider the fact that more than one in every three shots attempted is outside of the penalty area.
Albert Grønbæk has started the season as one of the best players in the Eliteserien. He has caught the eye on the European stage with some impressive performances in the UEFA Conference League as well, with MLS side Charlotte FC rumoured to be willing to pay up to £8m for him in January.
Now that he has signed a contract extension the fee is probably looking closer to the £10m mark when he eventually leaves the club. Glimt would love to keep him for their Champions League qualifying campaign but it’s obvious he has outgrown the club and there could be a bidding war for him this summer.
Logi Tomasson – Strømsgodset - Left Wing Back
One of the best Icelandic prospects on the market right now could well be Strømsgodset’s excellent talent at left wing back. Signed from Vikingur Reykjavik in August 2023, Tomasson has progressed from strength to strength and started the current campaign like an absolute train. He plays in Godset’s 3-4-3 system as a traditional left wing back and is known for being quite attack minded.
There is an air of simplicity about how he uncomplicates the game. Tomasson just runs down the wing and tracks back with authority. He was signed for only £220k but his value could now be up to the £1m mark now or maybe more.
Tomasson has a strong left foot and plays the conventional way a left wing back normally would. He ranks fourth for offensive duels this season compared to other players in his position, with a success rate nearly 45%. Godset use him as an attacking weapon and he has a high dribbling rate at 5.31 per 90 mins. His instructions are to get forward and cross the ball. Only Brann’s Joachim Soltvedt averages more crosses per 90 mins of any other lateral player in the Eliteserien. Tomasson stands out with a 31% accuracy on crosses and he also ranks in the top five for deep completions and deep completed crosses.
Tomasson has three Icelandic national team caps but that is a number which should increase if he keeps on this trajectory. His fine technical qualities are obvious but from a physical perspective he is known for having an excellent burst of acceleration which certainly aids his cause.
In the current system that Strømsgodset plays he does need to be covered defensively. But he certainly has the stamina and pace to track back and recover quickly. Tomasson is in a progressive Strømsgodset team who are improving. Whilst that keeps happening, then he is certainly on the radar of several clubs who are looking for a value signing in this position.
Sebastian Nanasi – Malmö - Attacking Midfielder
The player of the season in Allsvenskan 2023 has picked up where he left off. There is no doubt that Sebastian Nanasi is probably the hottest property in the Allsvenskan right now and it would be a surprise if he is still in the league at the end of the summer window.
Last season he racked up 11 goals and 7 assists and he already has nearly half of those numbers after just six rounds this year. Nanasi, who has been with Malmö’s youth team since 2018, now has a minimum market value of £5m. He could warrant maybe double that fee because he has developed into a fantastic footballer.
His primary position is on the left hand side of the attack, either as an inside forward or inverted winger type of role. He can also operate as a mezzala type of player and mostly cuts inside to the penalty area. Nanasi is a massive threat and averages 2.63 shots per game, one of the highest rates compared to other players in the Allsvenskan.
He is such a strong all round player though and ranks in the top ten for numerous statistical categories including crosses, offensive duels, progressive runs and dribbles. We are not looking at a one trick pony here but someone who has numerous strings to his bow.
Nanasi has great all round qualities. He has the technical ability which obviously greatly helps a lot of his stats. The mental side of his game must be mentioned though. His vision is brilliant, and he can really pick out a great pass when needed. For someone who is only 21 years old, his decision making also sets him apart from his peers. Players of a similar ilk often get sucked into shooting more wildly or being over-elaborate. He seems to know exactly when to make a shot or pass though and his sense of timing is spot on.
We will see now whether the same applies to his career. In the summer of 2023 Malmö lost another of their top young talents, Hugo Larsson, who transferred to Frankfurt. He’s gone from strength to strength and Nanasi could follow in his footsteps. There’s going to be major interest in him as the summer approaches and it’s hard to see how Malmö keep him for much longer.
Oliver Dovin – Hammarby - Goalkeeper
One of the brightest goalkeeping talents in the Allsvenskan is Hammarby’s Oliver Dovin. At just 21 years of age this is his second full season as the regular first choice starter. He was a backup on the bench at just 17 years old and earmarked early on to be a potential star. Dovin has been learning his trade at Allsvenskan level and shown fine improvement. But his stay in this division might already be coming to an end based on recent performances.
Dovin produced a solid 2023 campaign in which his expected goals conceded (xGC) was 50.74 across all competitions. He only conceded 46 times which demonstrates his ability to prevent goals. As with all decent keepers, his natural reflexes are very good and he produced a 67% ratio of saves in this fashion. Dovin is perfectly serviceable with his feet and produced a 72.2% long pass accuracy rate last year. He is mostly involved in a short distribution with Hammarby’s tactical system. In short, Dovin is just a solid all round keeper.
One major area of strength is his command and communication. In the last calendar year Dovin has only conceded three goals from corners and only two goals directly from crosses. At 187cm tall he has good natural height but a very good jumping reach where he can claim most crosses.
Dovin does the basics well and you don’t perceive him as much of an eccentric keeper. He is reliable, calm and you know what you are going to get with him. He only conceded seven goals from outside the penalty area in the last year and is not easy to beat.
Playing as the number one keeper at club like Hammarby comes with significant pressure. They are one of the biggest clubs in Sweden so for him to become the main starter so young is a real testament to his ability. This pressure and expectation should serve him well in the future.
Because there aren’t many clubs in the region which would represent a significant upgrade, his next move is probably to southern or western Europe. Perhaps another full season would serve him well in the Allsvenskan and be his wisest option. But for anyone looking at a major goalkeeping prospect then there will be eyes on him approaching this summer.
