Norwegian sensation Jens Petter Hauge was recently watched by top Manchester United scout Tommy Møller Nielsen in FK Bodø/Glimt’s 2-1 victory over Sandefjord on Sunday. The 20-year-old has made a total of 12 appearances for his club this season, which started in June, scoring eight goals and seven assists so far – 15 goal contributions meaning the player scores or assists on average every 1.25 matches which is a great statistic for the young winger.
Hauge predominantly plays on the left-wing but can also play on the right. He is contracted to FK Bodø/Glimt until the 31 December 2021, meaning he has just over a year remaining on his contract at the club. His last contract was signed on the 15 January 2020 and he joined the club back in April 2016, as a 16-year-old. The player will turn 21 in October. Møller Nielsen refused to confirm that he was scouting Hauge on Sunday and was quoted by The Sun as saying:
“It’s quite clear. When a club like Manchester United comes on the field, it will always be interesting.
“If that’s right [United scout watching him], then it’s very positive. But it’s not something I can go around thinking about because then my performance will drop.
“I have to focus on delivering. I will of course be very flattered if this is true, but I am now concentrating on performing in Glimt.”
Hauge is a talented footballer and has played in all but two of his clubs 14 matches played so far this season. His club sits at the top of the Eliteserien with 38 points after 14 matches, seven points clear of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s former club, Molde, who have played 15 matches this season. Since signing for the club around four years ago, Hauge have made a total of 108 appearances for his club, scoring 26 goals and 25 assists, which considering his age, is a good number of goals and assists.
Hauge made his debut at the age of 16 in the 2016 season and in the 2018 season, around the age of 18, the player was loaned to Norwegian club Aalesund where he made six appearances, failing to score a single goal or assist. Whilst nothing has been confirmed regarding United’s interest in the 20-year-old and the fact that Møller Nielsen has refused to say anything about his scouting mission this weekend, he did also speak to Dagbladet about his position as scout at United, saying:
“As Manchester United’s senior scout, I have a responsibility to keep up to date with what is happening in Scandinavia.
“Jens Petter Hauge plays, yes, but so do the rest of the players on the pitch. I check out all the players.”
Whilst there is nothing to suggest that Solskjaer is in the target to sign Hauge this summer, his performances at the club might warrant further inspection of the player with the transfer window closing on the 5 October and United needing to sign high-profile players this summer, there could be scope for United to do some kind of deal with the club, whether it be this summer, in January or next summer. It is even possible that United conduct a deal, leaving the player at the club for the remainder of the season. We shall see, I guess.
Written by John Walker
