"No true successor to Son Heung-min for a year, is he really the real deal?" Tottenham and Arsenal engage in a fierce battle to sign Norway's 2026 World Cup star valued at 99.4 billion won

*This content was translated by AI.

North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League (EPL) are engaged in an intense off-field rivalry over Norwegian national winger Antonio Nusa (21, Leipzig).

The UK's "The Sun" reported on the 24th (Korean time) that "Arsenal and Tottenham are set to clash head-on in their pursuit of signing Nusa."

Nusa appeared in 31 Bundesliga matches last season, scoring four goals and providing three assists, establishing himself as one of Europe's top young talents. He also performed brilliantly in the recently concluded 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, playing six matches. Notably, he scored the opening goal in the Round of 32 match against Côte d'Ivoire.

According to media reports, Leipzig is refusing to lower its asking price for Nusa to 51 million pounds (approximately 99.4 billion won). Arsenal is also approaching the situation with careful planning. The club intends to wait and observe the sale status of Gabriel Martinelli before making an official offer. While there are no plans to force Martinelli out, the club is prepared to accept any offer exceeding 51 million pounds from another team.

This summer, Arsenal sent Leandro Trossard to Besiktas and acquired Chris Toss Choliss for 34 million pounds (66.2 billion won). The media stated, "With their top target Morgan Rogers lost to Chelsea, manager Mikel Arteta finds Nusa an attractive alternative."

Tottenham's priority is squad restructuring. Decisions must first be made regarding the future of loan returnees Manor Solomon and Mickey Moore, who have attracted interest from multiple clubs.

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi signed Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes, and Jan Paul van Hecke for substantial fees this summer. Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi were also acquired as free agents (FA).

However, with four wingers—Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, Savi Simons, and Wilson Odobert—all sidelined simultaneously due to injuries, strengthening the flanks has become urgent. It remains to be seen whether Nusa can truly succeed as Son Heung-min's successor, who left for LAFC last season, and serve as a reliable "asset" capable of shouldering responsibility on Tottenham's wings.

AC Milan and AS Roma from Italy's Serie A have also entered the race to sign Nusa. Both clubs have already begun direct negotiations with Nusa's representatives. AC Milan, which has designated Nusa as its top priority, plans to raise transfer funds by selling star player Rafael Leão for 43 million pounds (83.8 billion won). Roma is set to offer 38 million pounds (74 billion won) to gauge Leipzig's response.

The media reported that "after successfully completing the World Cup, Nusa is seeking a new challenge. While transfer negotiations are expected to gain momentum, lowering the substantial transfer fee demanded by Leipzig remains a common challenge for all interested clubs."

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.