Arsenal is looking to make some big inroads in the summer transfer window and jump ahead of rivals, according to reports.
The Gunners recently appointed Andrea Berta as their new sporting director, succeeding Edu Gaspar, who departed in November 2024.
The 53-year-old Italian joins after a successful 12-year stint at Atletico Madrid, where he played a pivotal role in building squads that won two La Liga titles, the Europa League and reached two Champions League finals.
Furthermore, Mikel Arteta recently claimed that it would be a big summer for the Gunners coming up:
“It’s going to be a big one (summer) and we are very excited about it,” he said in his pre-Fulham press conference as quoted by Sky Sports.
“When you are going to go again, we want to increase the depth of the squad and the quality and the skills that we need to go to the next step.”
“Every summer is big because it is an opportunity and especially because of the number of players we have in the squad right now that is necessary.”
And it seems that the new hierarchy at the Emirates is wasting no time.
Foot Mercato have reported that Arsenal have initiated early moves to secure Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, with new sporting director Andrea Berta holding talks with the player’s representatives this week in a face-to-face meeting.
The discussions, described as exploratory, aimed to gauge Williams’ interest in a potential summer switch to North London.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, whose €58 million (£49 million) release clause remains active, has attracted widespread interest after contributing nine goals and seven assists this season, building on his standout Euro 2024 campaign with Spain.
Liverpool have long since been admirers of the Spaniard, with David Ornstein consistently naming Liverpool among the clubs as being interested.
For Arsenal to get such a talented player would not be good news for the Reds.
However, there is a silver lining for the Reds.
Athletic Bilbao’s unique recruitment philosophy, which limits signings to players with Basque heritage or those developed in their academy, makes them a standout in modern football. Nico Williams embodies this tradition, having risen through the club’s renowned Lezama academy alongside his brother Iñaki.
This deep-rooted connection to the club and its cultural significance makes any potential transfer for the 22-year-old winger particularly challenging.
Despite interest from top clubs, Williams’ bond with Athletic and his contract running until 2027 present significant hurdles for suitors hoping to lure him away from San Mamés.
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