Arsenal remain a credible option for Antonio Nusa after showing serious interest in the RB Leipzig star.
The forward’s impressive performances this season have seen Arsenal and several other clubs take notice.
He ended his three-year spell at Club Brugge to join the Bundesliga side in 2024, scoring 10 goals and contributing 11 assists in the first two seasons.
The Norway international has starred this season and has already managed six goals and seven assists in 13 matches. That’s 0.92 goal contributions per match and a goal or an assist every 82 minutes.
Arsenal serious about Nusa
Last week, Sport Witness covered a report from Italy explaining that the Gunners are serious about the 21-year-old. The Bundesliga side value him at €70m, and the Premier League winners are trying to lower the price.
Former Norwegian midfielder Kristoffer Løkberg is now an expert for NRK. He has been discussing Antonio Nusa and the Emirates club for the channel’s podcast, Bakrommet, and Nettavisen have relayed his comments.
Løkberg says top clubs pursuing Nusa isn’t surprising and explains the attacker’s value is close to €50m.
He said: “He is one of the world’s most exciting left-wingers. We have been waiting for his potential to come to full bloom, but now it is exploding. Then the big clubs can no longer sit on the fence. Then you have to act quickly before he disappears, or they will be left regretting it.”
“In today’s football, he is worth quite a lot. We are going to pay over 500m NKK [€48m]. Then it ultimately depends on which clubs sign up. I guess Leipzig hope the Premier League clubs express their interest seriously, because that is where the biggest money lies, the football expert believes.”
Why Arsenal ideal option in PL
Nettavisen says Kristoffer Løkberg rules out Manchester City, probably because of Jérémy Doku, who also operates on the left wing. Manchester United have struggled this season, which would also rule them out.
At Liverpool, Andoni Iraola has Bradley Barcola, Cody Gakpo and Rio Ngumoha on the left wing. The former midfielder isn’t certain how his compatriot would fit in at Chelsea if he were to join them. The Blues came close in the past before abandoning the deal.
He insists Mikel Arteta’s side, who have already shown serious interest in Antonio Nusa, stand out as a concrete option in England.
“The completely obvious option in the Premier League is Arsenal,” Løkberg explained.
“The player fits their playing style, and the club has a real need. They basically only have Tzolis and a slightly half-hearted Eberechi Eze as options on the left wing. I think Arsenal sit around every day, weighing whether to pull the trigger.”
The Gunners need to decide whether to make further advances to sign him, either in the winter market or next summer.
He also rules out Real Madrid and Barcelona, while Paris Saint-Germain could consider a move mainly because of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s injury.
“We must not forget PSG. With Khvitsja Kvaratskhelia out for a long time, Nusa can fit in there. The question is whether he wants to play in France, or whether he wants everyday life in the Premier League where the competition is overall tougher every week,” Løkberg concluded.
