RB Leipzig set €80 million asking price for Arsenal transfer target | Football

Arsenal are stepping up their interest in RB Leipzig winger Antonio Nusa ahead of the January transfer window.

The Gunners were expected to bolster their forward line in the summer, especially having sanctioned the departures of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

Greek international winger Christos Tzolis was signed from Club Brugge, but he has made only a limited impact thus far, in part down to injury.

Arsenal failed in their pursuits of several high-profile targets with Morgan Rogers opting to join Chelsea, while Vinicius Junior opted to sign a new long-term contract at Real Madrid.

The Gunners were willing to break their transfer record to snare Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid, but the former Manchester City forward had his heart set on Barcelona and but was ultimately forced to remain with Los Colchoneros.

Having kept their powder dry, Arsenal are expected to enter the market this winter and bolster a squad that has made such an impressive start to the season.

Saturday’s 1-0 win over Hull City represented a ninth win from 10 Premier League games, while Mikel Arteta’s side are well placed to qualify automatically for the next phase of the Champions League having collected 10 points from a possible 12 so far.

The majority of Arsenal’s wins so far have, however, been by one goal margins with Arteta leaning heavily into the defensive strength that has become the hallmark of his side.

Adding more quality to the forward line appears to be the next phase in Arsenal’s evolution as Nusa has been identified as a potential target.

The Norway international was monitored by the north London club before he moved to RB Leipzig from Club Brugge and has remained on their radar.

Nusa has enhanced his reputation while playing in the Bundesliga and is enjoying a highly productive season for Martin Demechelis’ side.

According to Bild, Arsenal sent scouts to watch the 21-year-old during his current side’s recent Champions League game against Manchester City and saw him score in a narrow 3-2 defeat.

The German publication also reports that Arteta is ‘impressed by Nusa’s tactical discipline, versatility, and athleticism’.

Leipzig are reluctant to sell their prize asset this winter, unless an extraordinary offer arrives, but would be willing to do business next summer for a fee in the region of €80 million.

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