Arsenal transfer target Nico Williams is likely to leave Athletic Bilbao in the New Year, according to The Athletic‘s David Ornstein.
The trusted journalist claims that the Spanish international’s wages could be an issue but the existence of a release clause makes a transfer more than possible:
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“Nico Williams earns a high salary but the £55m clause is fairly low for a player of his level, so it is probable that he will move in 2025.
The Gunners are named among his current suitors, along with Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Bayern Munich.
Arteta is a big fan of Williams
Speaking back in August, Ornstein said that the 22-year-old would be “[Mikel] Arteta’s top choice by a mile if they were to recruit a wide player” which shows you the high esteem the Gunners boss holds the player in.
In addition to the salary, another reason why no team has managed to snap up Williams so far is down to the player’s reluctance to leave his hometown club.
Whether Arteta and Arsenal can persuade the forward to make the move abroad, it remains to be seen, but it seems as if the Gunners will be near the front of the queue if he does decide he wants a fresh challenge away from Bilbao.
Arsenal will need to strengthen the left flank
Williams is a right-footed left winger so there is a good chance that Arteta would press for the club to recruit him, considering Gabriel Martinelli has not managed to reach the heights expected of him.
When you also consider that Leandro Trossard is about to turn 30, and will have just a year left on his contract next summer, there is room for another option on the left-hand side.
Find out who is in Arsenal’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here