Newcastle United 'fail' to hijack January move - Tottenham Hotspur 'in pole position'

Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly pipped Newcastle United in the race to sign Antonio Nusa.

There were suggestions the Magpies could hijack Spurs’ bid for the Club Brugge winger. Tottenham, the busiest Premier League club in the January transfer window, have chased the 18-year-old all season.

A talented winger, Nusa already has four caps for Norway, scoring on his senior debut against Jordan last year. He has emerged as one of the brightest prospects on the continent and made his Champions League debut for Brugge 18 months ago.

Talk of him joining Spurs did little to repel Newcastle’s interest in the winger. Dan Ashworth has made a conscious effort to bolster the academy ranks since his appointment as sporting director.

An often neglected area of the club under previous ownership, producing talent from Benton is viewed as a long-term strategy for the first team and balance sheet. Players who fail to make the grade can be flipped for a profit - creating wriggle room when it comes to Financial Fair Play.

Prospects like Garang Kuol, Alex Murphy and Yankuba Minteh have arrived in recent windows as part of Ashley’s youth rebuild. Any talk of Nusa following suit, however, is unlikely as he nears a North London move.

Football Insider reported Newcastle were considering Nusa - despite his tender years - as a replacement for Miguel Almiron. The Paraguayan has been the subject of a rumoured approach from Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Shabaab.

But Tottenham are now in pole position to add a third winter recruit after signing Timo Werner and Radu Dragusin. Nusa would likely be loaned back to Belgium for the remainder of the season.