Arsenal Target Antonio Nusa With £34m Bid as Left-Wing Search Intensifies

LONDON — Arsenal are actively reshaping their attacking options ahead of the upcoming season, with the North London club preparing an opening bid to secure RB Leipzig’s highly-rated winger Antonio Nusa.

According to a report from Caught Offside, the Gunners are ready to test the German club’s resolve as they look to fill a vacancy on the left flank. The search for reinforcements was accelerated following the departure of Leandro Trossard, who recently completed a £17 million transfer to Turkish side Besiktas. The departure of Leandro Trossard has left a notable void on the left wing, prompting manager Mikel Arteta and the club’s recruitment team to scour the European market for both immediate starting quality and long-term depth.

The Pursuit of Antonio Nusa

Arsenal are reportedly preparing an opening proposal worth £34 million for Nusa. However, negotiating a deal with RB Leipzig—a club renowned for maximizing the value of its young assets—will likely prove challenging. The Bundesliga side is understood to be highly reluctant to sanction a sale at that price point and is expected to hold out for at least £51 million before parting ways with the Norwegian star.

The 21-year-old winger is coming off a decent 2025/26 season in Germany, where he registered 5 goals and 4 assists across 35 appearances in all competitions. While Nusa averaged less than 60 minutes per game in the Bundesliga, his stock rose significantly on the international stage. His standout performances at the World Cup, which included scoring 2 goals against Sweden and Ivory Coast, highlighted his dynamic movement from the left flank and sharp tactical awareness.

Though scouts view Nusa as still an unfinished article at 21, his exceptional dribbling skills and variation of shots suggest he possesses the raw attributes to become an elite winger in the long run.

Balancing Marquee Targets and Squad Depth

Arsenal’s summer transfer strategy appears to be twofold: securing a high-profile, marquee signing for the starting lineup while simultaneously adding a reliable deputy. The club has earmarked Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers as their prime target for the marquee role, while Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola is also under consideration.

This dual-track recruitment drive comes at a time when the long-term future of Gabriel Martinelli remains uncertain, making the acquisition of a quality backup winger a high priority. Interestingly, the Premier League holders are also in the market for a quality deputy, adding further competition to the summer window.

The Christos Tzolis Alternative

As an alternative to Nusa, Arsenal have been frequently linked with Club Brugge’s Christos Tzolis. The Greek international enjoyed a stellar campaign in Belgium, racking up an extraordinary 22 goals and 29 assists from 52 appearances across all competitions.

Tzolis has developed leaps and bounds since his challenging stint with Norwich City, proving himself to be a highly productive forward in the Belgian Pro League. Available for around £35m this summer, Tzolis has already given the green light for a transfer, leaving Arsenal with a major decision to make regarding who will fill the backup left-wing role.

While Nusa has proven his capabilities at the highest level of German football, Tzolis has dominated at a lower level in Belgium but offers a significantly higher volume of direct goal contributions. Arsenal must now weigh Nusa’s high-ceiling potential against Tzolis’s immediate end-product as they finalize their summer transfer plans.