Arsenal and Chelsea have received a massive boost in their pursuit of Athletic Club mainstay Nico Williams.
Nico Williams’ future has been a massive talking point for well over a year now. While he decided to continue at Athletic Club last summer, things could be different this time around with multiple top clubs pushing for his signature.
Arsenal and Chelsea are two English clubs who are front-runners for his signature and they have received a significant boost in their pursuit. According to a report from TBR, Williams is ready to make the switch to the Premier League this summer.
Williams made quite a name for himself coming up the ranks at Athletic Club and he has been a consistent performer for them since breaking into the first team. He had an exceptional season with them last year and then played a massive role in Spain’s triumph in Euro 2024, where he found the back of the net in the final against England.
Ever since that fixture, multiple English clubs have been pushing for his signature. The 22-year-old is having another impressive season with the Spanish club as he has 18 goal contributions in his 44 outings. While quite a few clubs are interested in his signature, Chelsea and Arsenal are at the front of the queue.
Arsenal and Chelsea pushing for Williams’ signature
Both London clubs have been working very hard to convince him about a move to England. They have been in talks with the player’s camp to try and convince them about the switch. While his representatives are insisting that he is ready to move to the Premier League, the player has yet to make any commitment.
He is waiting to see where Athletic Club finish in the league. If they secure Champions League football, he could even choose to continue there for another season.
Andre Berta is the one leading the talks from Arsenal’s end. The new sporting director is keen on bringing in an upgrade on the left flank as he looks to take the North London club to the next level. Williams is their top priority for that role and they have been working on a potential transfer for some time.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have also held meetings with the Spanish international’s camp. With Mykhailo Mudryk serving a ban and Jadon Sancho‘s future uncertain, they certainly need more quality on the flanks. The 22-year-old is an ideal fit for their project. As a result, they are willing to go all out for him.
But Williams prefers a move to Barcelona, as a result, it will be interesting to see what he decides once Athletic Club’s position on the table is confirmed.