Manchester United have a transfer wildcard that could offer a cut-price solution and hurt Liverpool. The club is looking at their options on the wing this summer and might have to add a new name to the list during the World Cup.
Antonio Nusa Shines at World Cup
Antonio Nusa delivered an electric performance in Norway's World Cup win against Iraq. There is a winger at RB Leipzig who is attracting a fair bit of attention during this World Cup and looks set for a big-money move once the tournament ends. Yan Diomande was excellent for the Ivory Coast in their first game and Liverpool look set to win the race for the teenager.
Manchester United looked at Diomande earlier this year, but the 19-year-old's performances have continued to go up a level in the second half of this season. Reports of the Bundesliga side wanting more than £100million would be enough to price United out in a summer when the midfield is their focus.
But it turns out Diomande isn't the only eye-catching young winger at Leipzig, and Antonio Nusa made his own electric entrance onto the World Cup stage on Tuesday night.
Nusa's Profile
Nusa, 21, was superb for Norway in their 4-1 win against Iraq, causing havoc from the left, which is exactly where United want to strengthen. Diomande's move to playing more regularly on the right would count against him.
He registered five goals and four assists for RB Leipzig this season and while those numbers don't match Diomande's stunning output, he is a lively wide man capable of beating his man with a bagful of tricks. He could also be around half the price of Diomande.
The issue is whether RB Leipzig would sell both their first-choice wingers in the same window. With a deal for Diomande yet to be agreed, anyone moving swiftly for Nusa could steal a march and get that transfer done first.
For a player who only turned 21 in April, Nusa already has plenty of first-team football under his belt. He has made 170 appearances for Stabaek, Club Brugge and RB Leipzig and has 21 goal contributions in 70 games for the German outfit.
He also now has eight goals in 25 caps for his country and has earned the nickname the Norwegian Neymar back home, partly because he has never hidden his admiration for the Brazilian attacker.
"I like to create chaos," Nusa told Norwegian media in April 2021. "Neymar is my role model because he creates chaos on the pitch with his dribbling, just like me. He is one of the best in the world."
He has since tried to step back from those comparisons, insisting that while he takes it as a big compliment, "I'm not a new Neymar."
Adaptability to Premier League
He is an exciting left winger with a game that could suit the Premier League. Players from Scandinavia normally find it easy to adapt to the English game, and Sander Berge, Martin Odegaard, Oscar Bobb and Erling Haaland are prime examples of that in the Norwegian squad. The pace of the Bundesliga and its transitions also make it a good league to step up from to the Premier League.
United have good links with RB Leipzig. They signed Benjamin Sesko from that club a year ago for £73million and director of recruitment Christopher Vivell is a former employee at the Red Bull network of clubs.
They could use that to their advantage to look at Nusa. United are weighing up whether to sign a left-back or left-winger this season, and they have considered Morgan Rogers, Iliman Ndiaye and Crysenscio Summerville for the latter position. Nusa should also be on the list.
