Norwich City fans will love Pelle Mattsson verdict as Danish football expert highlights ‘dirty work’ attribute

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Norwich City already have one new Danish star through the door, and Pelle Mattsson could follow soon. Here, we dive into what Canaries fans can expect from the midfielder.

The capture of Mathias Kvistgaarden was a brilliant deal for Norwich, coming in at just £6.9m for one of the most highly-rated young strikers in Scandinavia.

Norwich City have seemingly paved the way for Josh Sargent’s exit with the signing of Kvistgaarden, who is regarded as a ‘dangerous’ and ‘complete’ striker.

Now, it seems the Canaries have turned their attention to the middle of the park, and Pelle Mattsson could be the ideal midfield signing for Liam Manning’s side.

• READ MORE: Norwich City praised for ‘shrewd’ Mathias Kvistgaarden signing, he brings ‘potential’ in one key area

Pelle Mattsson is a workhorse of a midfielder

Mattsson’s future seems to lie away from Silkeborg, with a move to the EFL on the cards. So, we spoke to Danish football expert Toke Theilade, the Editor-in-Chief at Vilfort Park, about what we can expect from the 23-year-old.

Theilade said: “He is a defensive midfielder. Naturally, there have been a lot of comparisons to his older brother, Magnus Mattsson, who plays for FC Copenhagen, but as players they couldn’t be further apart.

“While Magnus is a playmaker and scoring threat, Pelle does the dirty work as a holding midfielder. He protects his defence very well with great positioning and anticipation skills. Last season, he had the 9th most interceptions in the entire Superliga and 9th most tackles won. He was even first in duels won on the ground, proving just how great he is in the defensive part of the game.

“He is very tough to get past and is seemingly always in the right spot at the right time. The kind of player, you love to root for and hate to play against.

“His passing is basic but very safe. He rarely loses the ball, but also tends to keep it safe. However, he is capable of passing through opposing lines with dangerous through balls, but you shouldn’t expect him to act like a playmaker or anything like that.”

Off the pitch, Pelle Mattsson is a brilliant player to have around

It’s not just talent on the pitch that Mattsson delivers, though. Theilade tells us the young midfielder is also a model professional off it.

“His strengths are definitely in the defensive part of the game. He is just the kind of player you want to play as your number six,” Theilade added.

“He has an incredible work ethic and is a perfect professional. He is well-liked and respected by everyone at Silkeborg and he is appreciated for his impact in the squad as well, where he is known for picking up teammates and spreading positive vibes. Despite his young age, he is a great presence in the dressing room.”

• READ MORE: Norwich City’s most expensive signings of all time as Mathias Kvistgaarden deal looms

Norwich City could be the perfect level for Pelle Mattsson

While there are concerns that Kvistgaarden may see Norwich as a stepping stone, the Canaries can feel a lot more confident that Mattsson would be here to stay, as Theilade suggests a lower Premier League team may be just his level.

He said: “Mattsson has developed a lot since becoming a first team player at Silkeborg, and I think he can go even further. He is the kind of player that adapts to new challenges and elevates his level when facing obstacles.

“I don’t think he is the kind of guy who will go on to become a world-class player, but I think he can become a stable and appreciated player in a top league. He has a good head on him and will always strive to become as good as possible.

“If I have to put a specific limit on it, I would say probably Mattsson maxes out as a regular player for a bottom to mid-table Premier League team. But if the environment is right, he might prove me wrong.”

Pelle Mattsson will find it easy to settle at Norwich City

There has been talk of Portsmouth also pushing for Mattsson’s signature, but it now looks like Norwich will win that particular race; if they want to, of course.

Mattsson was absent from Silkeborg’s squad for a recent friendly last week, suggesting a move is in the offing.

While it remains to be seen where he ends up, Theilade did state that everything is in place for the midfielder to be a success at Carrow Road.

“I think he can do well on all Championship teams though and should be a regular either way,” he said. “But with the strong Danish connection at Norwich with Anis Ben Slimane, Kvistgaarden and Oscar Schwartau, I think going there would be a big advantage for him. Integration would be much easier.”