Arsenal eye January move for RB Leipzig winger after £46m claim
Arsenal are reportedly prepared to offer €55million (£46m) for RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa in the January transfer window, though that figure still falls short of what the Bundesliga side are said to be demanding for the Norway international.
Arteta's side currently sit top of the Premier League and have collected 10 points from their opening four Champions League group games this season. Despite that form, Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta are reportedly keen to strengthen the squad in January, with Nusa identified as a top target.
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According to Italian outlet TuttoJuve, Arsenal are 'considering an offer around €55million' for the winger. Leipzig, however, want €70million (£58.5m) to let him go, meaning the Gunners would need to raise their offer by roughly €15million (£12.5m) to get a deal over the line.
Nusa is also attracting interest from Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur, but Arsenal are said to hold the advantage in the race. TuttoJuve claims 'Juventus seems impossible to compete on these figures', while adding that 'the Gunners are believed to have an advantage over their London rivals, thanks in part to Mikel Arteta's coaching project'.
The report also notes that 'Nusa would represent a particularly attractive addition due to his ability to start from the left flank, take on opponents, and create goalscoring opportunities', highlighting his versatility as a player who can also operate as an attacking midfielder.
Lokberg backs Nusa for Arsenal move
Former Norwegian midfielder Kristoffer Lokberg has also publicly backed Nusa to end up at Arsenal, pointing to the club's current options on the left flank.
“The completely obvious option in the Premier League is Arsenal,” Lokberg said. “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.”
Lokberg was equally bullish on Nusa's talent and market value. “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.”
With the January window still weeks away, any move for Nusa will likely hinge on how close Arsenal and Leipzig can get on valuation. For now, the gap between the two sides' figures remains the key obstacle to a deal being completed.
