Arsenal have now landed a late chance to sign Antonio Nusa after Brentford saw their talks with Club Brugge for the winger’s transfer stall despite agreeing on a £25m fee.
The 18-year-old has been a hot topic for Premier League clubs this month following a strong season in Belgium. Nusa has scored four goals and laid on three assists over 28 outings in all competitions so far. He also recorded the forward’s senior debut for Norway last September.
Now, his form in the Jupiler Pro League could secure the Langhus native a move to England in January. Sky Sports now reports that Brentford have agreed on a £25m fee in principle for Nusa’s transfer with Club Brugge. Nusa would have also stayed at the club until the summer.
Antonio Nusa’s medical puts Brentford’s transfer in serious doubt
But while the two teams had agreed on the fee, Brentford’s talks with Club Brugge stalled on Monday. The Bees detected possible problems with the attacker’s fitness during his medical. The two teams are now doing further due diligence but Brentford remain keen on a transfer.
Gtech Community Stadium chiefs are considering their options as they are unlikely to agree to Nusa’s transfer under the previously agreed on conditions. Yet Brentford’s deal with Club Brugge stalling has swung the door back open for rival squads to target Nusa’s transfer, too.
Sky Sports adds that Tottenham Hotspur had talks with Club Brugge about Nusa’s transfer in January, too. But Brentford and Spurs are not the only clubs to target Nusa for a mid-season switch. 90min has previously cited Arsenal with a keen interest in Nusa’s potential this term.
Brentford’s deal stalling also possibly hands Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta a late chance to steal Nusa’s transfer from Club Brugge. But the Gunners will likely share the Bees’ caution as Ben Jacobs reports his medical revealed a potentially serious knee injury, as well as a back issue.
Arsenal have a late chance to sign Antonio Nusa of Club Brugge
Nusa had already merited Arsenal’s attention before breaking out on the international stage, as well. Reports by 90min following his debut under Stale Solbakken noted that the Gunners plus Liverpool and Newcastle United watched the winger after Chelsea failed with a late bid.
Chelsea hoped to sign Nusa from Club Brugge at the end of the summer in a £26m deal. But the youngster rejected the switch amid further interest from AFC Ajax, AS Monaco, Borussia Dortmund and Lyon. Arsenal have continued to scout Nusa since first showing their interest.
Nusa has also blown Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard away with his rise in the Norway fold this season. Odegaard called the Stabaek product ‘incredibly exciting’ in September after he laid on two assists against Georgia. He also called Nusa ‘dangerous’ after the October break.
Over the 18-year-old’s first four senior caps for Norway, Nusa has one goal and four assists. Solbakken has also started the winger twice but was without him during November due to a back injury. It was the second time this season that Nusa had suffered a back injury, as well.
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