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Barcelona president Joan Laporta (Picture: Getty)
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has confirmed the club have pulled out of the race to sign Arsenal and Chelsea’s ‘dream’ transfer target.
Barca were expected to be one of the leading contenders to sign Spanish winger Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao this summer.
Barcelona expressed interest in signing Williams last summer as the 22-year-old starred in Spain’s Euro 2024 victory.
The Nou Camp club have continued to be linked with Williams throughout the 2024-25 season ahead of a possible move this summer.
Barca chief Laporta has described Williams as an ‘excellent’ player but says the La Liga giants are currently ‘evaluating other options’.
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That will come as welcome news to Arsenal and Chelsea, who are both believed to have identified Williams as a ‘dream’ transfer target.
Williams has enjoyed another impressive season in Bilbao and is rated as one of the most dynamic wingers in Europe.
Athletic Club v CA Osasuna - La Liga EA Sports
Athletic Bilbao star and Premier League target Nico Williams (Picture: Getty)
Mikel Arteta is keen to sign at least one new winger this summer and is a known admirer of Williams, who reportedly has a release clause worth £48m.
Chelsea have also been heavily linked with the Spain international despite the abundance of attacking talent already at Stamford Bridge.
Asked about Barca’s interest in Williams, Barcelona president Laporta told TV3: ‘He was one of the candidates we were looking at when we were evaluating options.
Arsenal FC v Newcastle United FC - Premier League
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta (Picture: Getty)
‘We have a good profile of this player, who is an excellent player, but I think at this moment they are evaluating other options.’
Speaking more generally about Barcelona’s transfer plans for the summer, Laporta added: ‘First we have to assess what we have and once we have done this analysis we will possibly reinforce some of the positions.
‘The issue of goalkeeping has to be seen… because in goalkeeping experience is a degree. I think the Tek [Szczesny] thing has gone quite well and I hope it continues.’
Laporta has overseen a brilliant season for Barcelona, who took the La Liga crown from Real Madrid and also beat their arch-rivals in the Copa del Rey final.
Barcelona were minutes away from reaching the Champions League final before a late Inter Milan comeback sent the Serie A side into the showpiece event at the Allianz Arena on May 31.
As well as looking to sign a new winger this summer, Mikel Arteta is also expected to welcome a new striker to the Emirates Stadium.
Chelsea, too, are looking to sign a goalscorer, while Enzo Maresca is believed to want at least one more central defender and possibly a replacement for goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
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