Arsenal and Spurs Compete for Nusa Amid £51m Transfer Battle

The World Cup has a habit of changing careers overnight. For Nusa, it may have just detonated a full-scale transfer battle.

Fresh from a standout tournament with Norway and a breakout Bundesliga season with Leipzig, the 21-year-old winger has gone from promising prospect to one of the most talked-about young attackers in Europe. Six appearances on the global stage, Norway’s first goal in their last-32 win over Ivory Coast, and a fearless, direct style have pushed him to the front of several recruitment shortlists.

Now the queue is forming – and it starts in north London.

Arsenal weigh their next move

Arsenal are circling, but not rushing. The club are understood to be taking a measured approach before making a formal move, with their plans tied closely to the future of Gabriel Martinelli.

They are not actively looking to sell the Brazilian. That much is clear. Yet the market has a way of changing minds. An offer north of Leipzig’s £51 million valuation for Nusa – from Europe or Asia – could force a rethink at the Emirates. If a heavyweight comes in with serious money for Martinelli, Arsenal’s stance could shift quickly.

The wide areas are already in transition. Leandro Trossard has departed for Besiktas, trimming experience from Mikel Arteta’s attacking options. Christos Tzolis has arrived from Club Brugge to add depth and potential, but Arsenal’s primary target Morgan Rogers slipped through their fingers when Chelsea closed a £117 million deal for the forward.

Missing out on Rogers has only sharpened the focus. Nusa, with his pace, versatility and ceiling, fits the profile Arsenal have been chasing. The question is not whether they rate him. It’s whether they can – or will – go to Leipzig’s price.

Spurs interested, but blocked by numbers

Across north London, Spurs are just as keen – but stuck in a different kind of traffic.

They like Nusa. They want another winger. They simply have to clear the runway first.

The futures of returning loanees Manor Solomon and Mikey Moore need resolving before Spurs can realistically launch a formal bid. Until those situations are clarified, any aggressive move risks clogging an already crowded attacking department.

Injuries have only underlined the need for reinforcements. Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Xavi Simons and Wilson Odobert have all been ruled out of Spurs’ pre-season tour of New Zealand and Australia. The absences leave a gap on the flanks and a reminder that depth on the wings is not a luxury, but a necessity.

There is room in the squad for a player like Nusa. Spurs know it. So does everyone else watching this market.

Italy moves early

England is not Nusa’s only option.

AC Milan and AS Roma have already stepped forward, opening direct talks with the winger’s representatives as they try to steal a march on their Premier League rivals. The Italian clubs have moved with intent rather than intrigue.

Milan, according to the same report, see Nusa as a priority target. Their plan is clear: sell Rafael Leao, then use the funds to go after the Norwegian. It would be a major reshaping of their attack, with Nusa earmarked as a central piece of the next cycle.

Roma are taking a different route. They are prepared to test Leipzig’s resolve with a £38 million offer – a figure short of the £51 million asking price but high enough to start a conversation. If Leipzig show any hint of flexibility, Roma will want to be at the front of the line.

Leipzig hold the key

For all the interest, one reality cuts through the noise: Leipzig are holding firm.

The valuation is set at £51 million, and clubs across Europe are being told the same thing. That number is not a guideline. It is the benchmark.

Every suitor faces the same obstacle. Arsenal, Spurs, Milan, Roma – all of them must either pay up or persuade Leipzig to blink first. Until that happens, this saga remains potential rather than conclusion.

Nusa, for his part, is understood to be open to a new challenge after his successful World Cup and breakthrough season. He has done his part on the pitch. The performances, the goals, the composure on the big stage – they have all pushed him into this position.

Now the market takes over.

Talks are expected to accelerate in the coming weeks as pre-season plans harden and squads take shape. Clubs know how quickly opportunities vanish once the window’s final weeks turn frantic.

North London rivalry, Italian ambition, and a stubborn German valuation. Somewhere in that triangle, Nusa’s next step will be decided.