Jens Petter Hauge is attracting interest in the Premier League and clubs have now been urged to make a move.
Hauge was successful for Bodo/Glimt in the Champions League this season and could be the next star from Scandinavia.
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The 26-year-old is playing for the Norwegian team for the second time, having previously made it into a European top five league.
In 2020, he moved to AC Milan, but after struggling to make a name for himself, he moved to Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022.
That didn’t bring much success either, as he only scored three goals in 55 appearances for the club and then moved to Gent on loan.
However, Hauge then failed to score at all for the Belgian team, which led to him returning to Bodo/Glimt just four years after his departure.
But since this comeback his reputation has risen again and now England is also attracting interest because of his good form.
He is one of only three players this season, alongside Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Junior and Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise, to have scored more than 20 dribbles and more than 20 runs with a shot or chance in the Champions League.
He has also scored six goals in ten games for Bodo/Glimt in their historic European season and has 19 goals and assists in his last 24 appearances for his club.
This has reportedly led to Tottenham and Everton, among other top English teams, wanting to sign Hauge.
And European football expert Andy Brassell believes he could fit into their squad while also being a better option for one of their rivals.
“At 26, he’s definitely young enough to go.” [from Bodo/Glimt] “Again,” Brassell told The Pitch Prospect.com. “But he went away, experienced great European football with Milan and Eintracht Frankfurt and decided to come back.”
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“He could have gone somewhere else in Europe, but he chose to come back to Bodø. And I think that in a way underlines how much they have grown and the strength they have that they can even afford to bring a player back from Europe.”
“I think it also highlights what a better player he is. The second time at Bodø/Glimt and the first time… how much experience he has gained even in the difficult moments, especially in Milan and to a lesser extent at Eintracht Frankfurt.”
Brassell continued: “If he came into the Premier League, and we have seen the level of his ability, then he is really special.”
“I don’t think there are that many authentic wide players outside of full-backs in the Premier League anymore.”
“So I think he would fill an interesting gap. Now I’m thinking about teams that I think could use better width without a wing-back. I could see him really thriving at Aston Villa under Unai Emery. I think he’d be great there.”
“I think we’re talking again about whether they get promoted, but I think he would be someone who would be a positive cultural change for Spurs too.”
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“And I think when we talk about it [Everton]Perhaps the decision for Jack Grealish is a bit too expensive, especially in terms of salary. And of course he is four years older than Jens Petter Hauge. I think he would be an interesting fit at Everton.
“I think the clubs you could exclude in the Premier League would be Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal. But otherwise I think he would improve a lot of teams in the Premier League.”
Scandinavian stars
Brassell then discussed the increase in names from Scandinavian countries playing in some of Europe’s top leagues.
He mentioned several players from the region who are now plying their trade in Portugal and discussed the likelihood of English teams also entering this market.
“I think what we’re increasingly seeing in Europe, we’re seeing it in Portugal, we’re seeing it in Spain, is Scandinavian football and I know with England we’re obviously at the top end… I think the Scandinavian ones are coming,” he predicted.
“I think you look at the fact that you can buy players from Scandinavian clubs for a fraction of what you can buy players from Spain or Portugal or even France to some extent. You can give them a massive pay rise without destroying your structure.”
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“These are guys who are incredibly fit physically and are also getting better and better technically,” added Brassell. “We can talk about it [Kristian] Arnstad, [Andreas] Schjelderup…I’m just mentioning the Norwegians.
“But if you look at players who have already left Scandinavia and excelled in other leagues, then you look at Morten Hjulmand, Sporting captain Victor Froholdt, who did brilliantly in Porto this season despite only being a teenager.”
“Jens Petter Hauge is different because he has returned to Scandinavia and is in his mid-twenties and will soon be in his late twenties after doing well there the first time.”
“But it wouldn’t surprise me if the next generation of these guys, your next Froholdt for example, came straight from Denmark.
“Or the next one [Martin] Odegaard or [Erling] Haaland comes to the Premier League directly from Norway.
“Maybe a Premier League club will go out and buy them or loan them somewhere. That’s how it usually works.”