Tottenham not to blame for Antonio Nusa failure as winger linked with late January transfer
We’re delighted to welcome former Scotland right-back Alan Hutton as our exclusive columnist as each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium…
Alan Hutton doesn’t believe that Tottenham can be blamed for previous failed moves for Antonio Nusa, as the Norwegian international continues to be linked with a January move to North London.
Tottenham News were told by a recruitment source with strong links to the Scandinavian market that Spurs missed the opportunity to sign Nusa in while he was still playing in Norway for Stabaek before he made the switch to Club Brugge.
Ange Postecoglou’s side remain keen on signing Nusa during the January transfer window, as reported by Tottenham News (18 January), with Fabrizio Romano (20 January) reporting that Spurs are “pushing” to get a deal over the line before the transfer deadline.
Club Brugge currently value the teenager at a reported £25million [Evening Standard, 19 January], a far greater fee than Spurs would have had to pay in the past, but Hutton doesn’t believe they should be criticised for missing out originally.
“It can happen through performances,” Hutton told Tottenham News.
“Yes, he’s obviously kicked on and done well so there might have been an opportunity to go elsewhere at one moment in time but those years in football, it’s like an age.
“A week is like an age, never mind a season or two so you can really kick on and that’s obviously what has happened. Yes, unfortunately maybe if you had scouted him back then you could have signed him, but maybe you wouldn’t have thought he was good enough at that moment in time.
“Things have moved and fair play to him, he’s shown everybody what he’s capable of.”
In 16 league appearances this season, the 18-year-old has managed to score three goals and pick up a further two assists primarily from the left wing to help Club Brugge sit in the Belgian first division this season.
Only six of those 16 matches have seen him named in the starting XI as Nusa has managed to have a consistent impact from the bench, demonstrating his game-changing ability alongside his immense technical talent.
It will be interesting to see whether or not Tottenham bite the bullet and pay the money required to bring the Norwegian to North London this month. This could go either way in the coming days.
In other Tottenham news, Hutton has tipped one Spurs star to depart for Everton during the summer transfer window
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