Antonio Nusa starred for Norway on the big stage at the World Cup amid reported interest from Newcastle United
Antonio Nusa is reportedly a target for Newcastle United
If Eddie Howe had settled down on his couch to take in the World Cup action on Tuesday, the Newcastle United boss might well have been dialling Ross Wilson’s number at around 5.40pm with a glowing recommendation.
It was around that time that Norway were facing the Ivory Coast in their round of 32 tie some 4,600 miles away in Arlington, Texas. Antonio Nusa lit up a dismal first half with a wonderful 39th-minute strike to open the scoring, and for once, it wasn’t just Erling Haaland stealing the headlines for the Scandinavian nation.
Nusa cut inside from the left and placed his curling effort in the far corner with aplomb, sparking wild celebrations in the stands. Few would have been surprised if Howe had told his sporting director to increase their interest at that moment.
Nusa’s goal capped an impressive overall performance as Norway progressed to the next round and it’s not the first time he’s caught the eye. The Langhus-born forward was one of the standout players in the 4-1 rout of Iraq in the group stage and he’s gradually squeezed his way into Stale Solbakken’s starting line-up.
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe is looking to find a replacement for Anthony Gordon(Image: MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The Chronicle understands that Newcastle have sent scouts to run the rule over the 21-year-old this season, and his club, RB Leipzig, are now willing to accept a reduced offer of £43.1 million for the winger.
Despite receiving a £5.2 million fine from UEFA for breaching the governing body’s Financial Sustainability Regulations, Newcastle have funds to use following Anthony Gordon’s £69.3m move to Barcelona in June and view him as a long-term replacement for the England international.
The pair have more in common than they might have thought: both Gordon and Nusa were on the verge of moves to Chelsea before last-minute bids were rejected by their respective clubs. Nusa was 18 when the Blues had a £23 million bid rejected by Club Brugge, while Gordon later went on to sign for Newcastle in 2023 from Everton in a £40 million deal.
Newcastle aren’t the only ones to take notice, with Nusa attracting a long list of admirers, including Chelsea, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Tottenham and Crystal Palace. There is nothing advanced yet, meaning it may be the opportune moment for Newcastle to pull something out of the bag.
After failing to sign top target Victor Munoz, who joined Liverpool from Osasuna, Newcastle are in danger of being left in their wake by their rivals. Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali have been targeted by their Big Six rivals, and other stars such as Tino Livramento and Lewis Hall are being eyed up too.
Antonio Nusa scored against the Ivory Coast for Norway (Image: 2026 Mateusz Slodkowski)
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It’s clear that Nusa exhibits the profile of a player adored by Howe. Not only does he attack with dynamism and direction – using his pace to glide past defenders – he uses his stamina to track back on the left side when required. That’s a much-admired trait in the eyes of Howe and what ultimately turned Gordon into a key player on Tyneside.
“I love one-on-one situations. It’s what I enjoy most about football – dribbling, having the freedom to create something on the pitch,” Nusa said previously. “I try to help them settle in off the pitch. But the most important thing is: always be yourself. Work hard, but never lose the joy.”
While he scored on his debut for RB Leipzig after signing from Club Brugge, he has taken some time to adjust to life in Germany, bagging just seven goals in 56 Bundesliga appearances. He played 31 league games in 2025/26, highlighting his increasingly important role in the side.
If there is one reason to doubt a potential transfer materialising, however, it’s that Leipzig are desperately trying to cling onto another one of their World Cup starlets, Yan Diomande. The 19-year-old is a target for Liverpool but is expected to join PSG in a deal that could exceed £100 million.
If Diomande does depart, Leipzig would have no real motivation to sell another one of their young stars in Nusa unless they received an enormous offer. In a recent interview, Nusa stated that he was living the dream by playing in the Bundesliga, Champions League and now the World Cup – suggesting he may be happy to stay put.
“Even when I’m just playing in the Bundesliga, I’m like realising, ‘Wow, it’s just a dream.’ And, to be able to go to a World Cup will be another moment where you say, ‘wow, I’m really blessed for that’,” he said earlier this month. “I’m really thankful and happy that every week I get to have this chance because not a lot of people have it.”
Of course, heads can be turned and minds can be changed quickly in football. If Howe is serious about revitalising Newcastle and turning them into Big Six crashers again, signing the best talent out there is crucial to achieving that – and capturing Nusa would show they mean business next season.
Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package
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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.
Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.
