“He’s strong, very technical, has a very quick feet, and also a free kick specialist”- Reports claim £30M special talent has rejected a transfer to Oil money Chelsea as he’s expecting Arsenal’s bid for him to join the Gunners after he rejected his club’s contract renewal offer

Arsenal now scouting £26m teenager who just rejected Chelsea transfer

Arsenal and Liverpool have scouted Antonio Nusa during recent weeks after the Club Brugge talent rejected a last-gasp transfer to Chelsea despite wanting ‘the next step’.

That is according to 90min, which reports that Arsenal have joined a host of European teams tracking Nusa. The 18-year-old is emerging as one of Norway’s most promising talents with Club Brugge. He even scored on his senior international debut against Jordan this Thursday.

Stale Solbakken afforded Nusa his Norway breakthrough in a friendly at the Ullevaal Stadion. Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard also started the meeting, while Erling Haaland was only an unused substitute. Nusa broke the deadlock on 11 minutes and also later penned one assist.

Arsenal scout Antonio Nusa after Chelsea failed to land his transfer

The left-winger firing home on his Norway bow followed Nusa scoring one and assisting two goals in 10 games for Club Brugge this season. He has also started in seven matches, mostly from the wing. Nusa started as a striker at Osasuna in a Europa Conference League qualifier.

His efforts in front of the net also help to show why clubs across the continent are mulling a move. Chelsea offered Club Brugge £26m to sign the winger late in the summer sales. While Arsenal and Liverpool have now joined the list of teams scouting Nusa in view of his transfer.

Newcastle United have also sent their talent spotters to the Jan Breydel Stadium to run the rule over the forward. But the Toon, Gunners and Reds’ recent visits only followed AFC Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, Lyon and AS Monaco all expressing their interest during the off-season.

Antonio Nusa is ready to leave Club Brugge despite his new contract

Club Brugge are under no pressure to sell Nusa as the forward signed a new contract back in April. It tied the ex-Stabaek IF prospect down until June 2027 just two years after joining the club. The Langhus-born gem has played 46 times and penned four goals plus three assists.

Yet, despite his new deal, Nusa is ready to leave Club Brugge but wants his ‘next step’ to be perfect. So, he rejected a transfer to Chelsea this summer after the Blues only bid in August. Stamford Bridge chiefs waited right until the final week of the window to make their move.

“I already knew that it wasn’t going to happen now,” Nusa told TV2. “But then the money came on the table. Then it was seen in a slightly different way.

“We had to have another conversation when the money arrived. But we were on the same page. So, there was no problem there. I knew what to do anyway, so it was fine.”

He added: “I want to be a footballer but not just a footballer. I and those around me want to create the best career possible. I have to make the right choices.

“I went to Bruges. It happened very quickly, I left suddenly. Now, I’m in a situation where I want the next step, when it happens, to be something I’ve really thought through. I want to find what is right for me. It is important to me. I think about what is best for me.”