Manchester City fail to team Erling Haaland with Lamine Yamal-esque Norway starlet

FC Nordsjælland have seen off competition from Manchester City and Arsenal to secure the signing of Norwegian teenager Leo Dorsin, as per a new report.

City and Arsenal are involved in a spicy title race with the stakes as high as they’ve ever been for the latter, who are at their strongest under Mikel Arteta and possess the strength in depth to claim their first Premier League title since 2004.

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola’s side are at a nascent stage of their transition under director of football Hugo Viana but a punching above their weight to stay on Arsenal’s heels as they vie for a fifth league title in six seasons.

The Premier League table toppers are also enjoying a stellar UEFA Champions League campaign, with Arsenal topping the group-phase standings after picking up six wins in six so far and City taking a giant stride towards the Round of 16 last week by coming from behind to beat Real Madrid on their own patch.

City have gradually cut the gap to Arsenal to two points in recent months, capitalising on a rare Gunners slip-up away at Aston Villa at the start of December by picking up a comfortable home win over Sunderland.

The Premier League title is not won in December and Guardiola will not be understating the importance of staying thereabouts as the season progresses and Manchester City find a third, fourth and fifth gear to stake a claim for what would be a ninth Premier League crown in the club’s history.

Meanwhile, Arsenal cannot afford to let their early start go to waste as City creep up on their shoulder and threaten to snatch the title away for a third occasion in recent seasons – what has become a recurring theme for the Gunners to bottle the title race come the business end of the season.

The 2026 January transfer window will allow City and Arsenal to plug loopholes in their respective squads as the English sides challenge for silverware on several fronts after an impressive few months on the pitch that have set the foundation for a potentially remarkable showing come May.

As reported by Tipsbladet and relayed by Sport Witness, Manchester City and Arsenal have lost the race to sign Norway and Rosenborg teenager Leo Dorsin to Danish side FC Nordsjælland.

Dorsin has established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting prospects and was also attracting strong interest from Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Ajax, who were lining up to sign the left-winger, who has earned comparisons to Barcelona and Spain forward Lamine Yamal.

FC Nordsjælland have this week confirmed a deal for Dorsin, who has penned a three-year contract with the Superliga outfit and will showcase his talents in the club’s U19 ranks to begin with.

City and Arsenal are both believed to have been impressed by Dorsin when the Norway U-16 star visited the duo on trial, though their loss is Nordsjælland’s gain and it could be one that Guardiola and Arteta go on to rue in the years to come.