Vinicius Jr
Vinicius Jr
Nico Williams may well be the Vinicius Junior alternative for Arsenal and an update on the Athletic Club winger suggests there is a realistic possibility of a switch to the Emirates.
The Gunners have once again gone back to the drawing board after Vinicius opted to sign a new deal with Real Madrid. A dream move had been prepared for the Brazilian superstar but he has extended his stay at the Estadio Bernabeu.
This was another blow for Mikel Arteta, who missed out on another attacking target, Morgan Rogers, who joined Chelsea from Aston Villa for £117 million last month. Signing a winger remains a priority for the Premier League champions and Williams is back on their radar.
The North Londoners tried bringing the Spaniard to the Emirates last summer but failed to convince him to leave his boyhood club. He, like Vinicius, signed a new deal but the inclusion of a release clause had pointed towards an eventual exit.
Arsenal Reigniting Interest in Nico Williams
Nico Williams celebrating after scoring for Athletic Bilbao
Nico Williams celebrating after scoring for Athletic Bilbao
That might come this summer with Arsenal now exploring alternatives to Vinicius and their hopes of landing Bradley Barcola are fading. Liverpool have reportedly agreed on a £110m deal with Paris Saint-Germain for the French winger.
Arteta and Andrea Berta could turn to Williams and a report from TEAMtalk suggests they have set their sights on the World Cup winner. Transfer guru Graeme Bailey had explained to the same outlet back in July that his release clause was worth £77m and is a figure 'well within the reach of Arsenal.'
The Gunners have failed to persuade the 24-year-old to make the move in previous years, but Bailey claims that might not be the case this time around. It's said that he is now 'more receptive to experiencing a new chapter in England.'
Arsenal transfer targets:
Nico Williams - More open to Premier League switch
Williams is one of Spanish football's most exciting attacking talents, who has become the poster boy at Athletic. He has also made a name for himself on international duty, scoring in Spain's Euro 2024 final win over England and assisting Ferran Torres for the winner in the World Cup final victory against Argentina.
Arteta Could Land The Winger He's Always Wanted
Mikel Arteta Arsenal 2026
REUTERS/Phil Noble via Action Images
Arteta could drive Arsenal's pursuit of Williams if the club do decide to launch a concrete move for the Athletic winger. The Gunners boss is a huge fan and waxed lyrical when asked about interest in the player last summer:
David Ornstein of The Athletic previously confirmed that Arteta 'loves Williams' and that he wanted to sign him long ago. That included in January when he appeared at the top of the Gunners' wishlist.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta looks on ahead of Champions League final vs Paris St Germain
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta looks on ahead of Champions League final vs Paris St Germain
It's clear that Arteta needs a traditional winger who boasts electric pace, a tricky skillset and reliability in front of goal. Williams ticks those boxes and his release clause is surely attractive given the current market with players of similar ability moving for over £100m.