Arsenal’s captain is in his Norway teammate’s ear, and the Gunners think Leipzig’s £60m price can drop to £45m

Arsenal have a new recruiter in their pursuit of Antonio Nusa, and it is their own captain, with Martin Odegaard said to be working on his Norway teammate ahead of the January window.

According to journalist Mark Brus in The Daily Briefing, Odegaard has been encouraging the RB Leipzig winger to consider a move to the Emirates. The two know each other well from international duty, and the skipper has been selling Nusa the idea of playing together at club level.

Arsenal are not leaving it to the captain alone, either. The report says the club have also held talks at intervals with Nusa’s representatives and with Leipzig as they explore a deal.

Why does Odegaard’s role matter?

The thinking at Arsenal is less about charm and more about leverage. A source quoted in the report explained it plainly: “Martin Odegaard knows Antonio Nusa well from their time with the Norwegian national team. He’s been in his ear about joining him at the Emirates, and the hope at Arsenal’s end is that this strategy could push Nusa towards pressuring Leipzig to lower their demands.”

In other words, if Antonio Nusa makes it clear he wants the move, Leipzig’s hand gets weaker. That is the whole plan, and it explains why the club are happy for Odegaard to keep talking.

How much would Antonio Nusa cost Arsenal?

Leipzig want £60m. Arsenal believe they can bring that down, and the report suggests a deal could be done for around £45m if the negotiations go their way.

That gap is the real obstacle. Arsenal’s interest is not new, as Leipzig refused to sell the winger in the summer, and every week Nusa keeps performing makes the German club less likely to budge.

A reminder against Man City

Nusa gave another glimpse of what he offers on Wednesday night. He scored Leipzig’s second equaliser against Manchester City, only for Erling Haaland to win it late as City took a 3-2 Champions League victory in Germany.

He has featured regularly for Leipzig this season and continues to attract interest from several Premier League clubs, so Arsenal are unlikely to have a clear run at him.

Where would he fit under Arteta?

For Mikel Arteta, Nusa would be another attacking option out wide in a season with demands on several fronts. Arsenal won 2-1 at Slavia Prague on Wednesday, but they needed a determined defensive effort in the second half after a strong start, and depth in the wide areas remains a talking point.

For now, though, this is still a story of ongoing talks rather than an advanced agreement. The captain can open the door, but the fee decides whether Nusa walks through it.

Can Odegaard get the Nusa deal over the line?

Using Odegaard is smart business. Players listen to teammates they trust far more than they listen to sporting directors, and a winger who hears every international camp how good life is in north London might start asking his club questions.

But £60m is a lot of money, and Leipzig have already shown they are in no hurry to sell. If Leipzig hold firm, January could pass with plenty of talk and no transfer. Our view is that Arsenal should stay patient: £45m for a player of Nusa’s age and form would be good value, while £60m would be a gamble they do not need to take in the middle of the season.