EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Tottenham Hotspur are still very keen on Club Brugge forward Antonio Nusa with the Premier League giants looking to bring in at least two new forwards in the summer transfer window.
HITC understands that Ange Postecoglou’s side are looking to enhance their attacking options in the summer. And Antonio Nusa, who held talks with the North London giants in the middle of January, remains very much at the forefront of their thinking.
The Scandinavian teenager – who has been nicknamed the ‘Norwegian Neymar’ by some – missed out on an eventual move to England due to a problem discovered during his medical. Brentford, by deadline day, had overtaken Spurs in the race and agreed a £25 million fee with Club Brugge (Telegraph).
Nusa continues to struggle with the odd injury. He missed two games in March with a hamstring problem.
We have been informed, however, that Tottenham remain firmly in pursuit of the 18-year-old winger. The right-footed Nusa can play on both the right or the left wing, and Spurs’ interest could raise doubts about whether Tino Werner will have his loan deal transformed into a permanent transfer.
There is a £15 million option-to-buy clause in the former Chelsea speedster’s contract. Nusa, with his deal running until 2017, is expected to cost around twice that fee.
Tottenham Hotspur still chasing Antonio Nusa
“First and foremost, I had always intended to stay here until the summer. That also makes it much easier today,” Nusa now tells Het Nieuwsblad, insisting that the plan was always to see out the current campaign in Belgium.
“Suddenly a lot started to move. I spoke a few times with Brentford, including the coach Thomas Frank), and was very excited. In the end, it didn’t happen. It’s things you can’t control.”
“All I can say is that I am 100 per cent fit and never had any problems with that knee. In the end, it also became clear that there was no problem.
“I really can’t say what will happen (in the summer). This season, I had to miss a lot of matches. Now I want to play as much as possible. I can’t rule out staying here, but I also can’t rule out leaving. At the moment everything is open.”
Nusa has four goals and four assists for Club Brugge in all competitions across 2023/24. He is rapidly becoming a regular fixture in the Norway national team squad, however, striking up an exciting understanding with Erling Haaland while earning some words of encouragement from Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard.
‘Extremely good’
“It’s nice to see young Norwegian players who dare to show themselves. They dribble and challenge (the opposition). And, as soon as Nusa comes off the bench, he becomes dangerous,” Odegaard, who may soon be joined by the teenager in the English capital, tells VG.
“You can see that, as soon as he gets the ball, he goes straight for (the goal). He is extremely good at it.”
Tottenham are already set to welcome two of Europe’s most exciting young talent in the summer. Lucas Bergvall is joining from Djurgardens – Ange Postecoglou’s side fought off competition from Barcelona – while centre-half Luka Vuskovic is also on his way.
Brentford, meanwhile, have agreed to sign Nusa’s Brugge team-mate Igor Thiago for a club-record fee.
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