Brentford are closing in on a deal for Antonio Nusa, after hijacking Tottenham’s move for the Club Brugge winger.
Spurs had been in talks over signing the highly-rated 18-year-old but he has decided that joining the Bees is the best next step in his career.
Brentford are working to wrap up a £25.6million transfer before the window closes on Thursday. That figure could potentially rise to £31.5m with performance-related add-ons.
Nusa is expected to remain at Club Brugge for the rest of the season, but feels he is likely to get more regular playing time at Brentford rather than Spurs.
The final details of the deal are still being ironed out, with Club Brugge seeking a 12.5 per cent sell-on clause in any deal.
Signing Nusa would be a major coup for Brentford, as he is regarded as one of the best young talents outside Europe’s top five leagues.
Chelsea had a £23m bid for him rejected on deadline day lastsummer, while at least four other clubs have made offers for him this month.
Nusa made his Norway debut in September and has scored four goals and registered three assists in 28 matches in all competitions this season.
He usually plays off the left, cutting inside, but he can also operate on the right flank.
Nusa says he likes to “create chaos” with his dribbling. Speaking to Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten last year, he said: “Neymar is my role model, because he creates chaos on the pitch, just like me.”
Nusa would become Brentford’s fourth signing of a busy month, following the arrivals of Hakon Valdimarsson, Sergio Reguilon and Yunus Emre Konak.
