Arsenal plot January move for £60m winger amid Newcastle interest
Arsenal are considering a January move for a Bundesliga winger who has been in red hot form for club and country, with Newcastle United also keen on securing his signature.
According to Football Insider, Arsenal have RB Leipzig's Antonio Nusa on their shortlist as Mikel Arteta looks to add more depth to his wide options. Aston Villa and Newcastle are also credited with interest, with a 'major race' expected for the 21 year old's signature when the window reopens.
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Arsenal sold both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli over the summer, but only brought in Christos Tzolis as a replacement. That has left Arteta light on options out wide, and Nusa's recent form has clearly caught the club's attention.
Nusa's rise with Leipzig and Norway
The Norwegian was one of the standout performers for his country at the World Cup, and he has carried that form into the new Bundesliga season. Nusa has scored three goals and provided three assists in just five league games for Leipzig this term.
That kind of output has naturally increased interest from the Premier League, with Football Insider reporting that Arsenal and Aston Villa are considered better placed than Newcastle to land him, owing to their involvement in the Champions League this season. Both clubs are described as 'major contenders' to sign Nusa in January.
Leipzig reportedly value Nusa at around £60million, and with the player under contract until 2029, the German club are in no rush to sell cheaply.
Alvarez still the priority
Arsenal's interest in Nusa comes as the club continues to be linked with Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, who was their top target over the summer before a deal failed to materialise.
Reports in Spain now suggest Alvarez's price tag has dropped considerably. Atletico had previously insisted any suitor would need to match his €500million (£422m) release clause, before privately indicating a willingness to sell for €200million (£169m). The latest reports claim just €120million (£101m) could now be enough to get a deal done in January.
Given the scale of investment required to sign Alvarez, it seems unlikely Arsenal would pursue both him and Nusa in the same window. For now, the Alvarez saga continues to rumble on, but Nusa is a name Arsenal fans will want to keep tabs on as January approaches.
