Arsenal are seeing their transfer options to strengthen out wide dwindle significantly with a Nico Williams blow the latest to arrive. football.london understands Mikel Arteta is an admirer of the Athletic Club star with that being the case even prior to his breakout displays with Spain at Euro 2024.
Signing a winger is one of many aims in the summer transfer window with Williams unsurprisingly a name linked. The Gunners are also understood to be looking at strengthening their squad by bringing in a striker, defender and back-up goalkeeper in addition to the expected arrival of Martin Zubimendi.
His £51million release clause looks set to be activated and as medical tests took place last week, an official announcement should therefore follow. However, that may not be the case with Sociedad requesting the move is ratified in July for business accounts purposes.
In the meantime, Arsenal could advance in talks for other targets with that looking to be the case for Benjamin Sesko. Contact has been made between the Gunners and RB Leipzig with the financial package one of many things being discussed.
Interest in Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP, their other top striker target, remains but focus now appears to be on the younger but more expensive option in Sesko.
In terms of potential wide forward additions, Arsenal have been linked to Nico Williams, Bryan Mbeumo, Jamie Gittens and several others. All three of those names mentioned could potentially be off the market soon, though.
The Brentford star, valued at £60million, has decided he wants to join Manchester United while Chelsea have started talks with Borussia Dortmund to sign Gittens in a deal likely to cost £50million. And now, as revealed by Give Me Sport's Ben Jacobs, Athletic Club have started initial talks to renew his contract.
His update states that parties are discussing a salary which would exceed £8.4million (€10m) and that there may be an increase to his existing £49million (€58m) release clause. Arsenal see value in that currently but an increase and new deal would almost certainly change that.
Interested suitors also believe, inclusive of wage demands and agent fees, the 22-year-old would be too expensive. Williams signing an extension would rule out a summer exit and leave Arsenal with limited options.
This is where Arsenal will be hopeful that Andrea Berta's expertise comes into play with the club's new sporting director regularly identifying and making contact with multiple targets.
Leroy Sane of Bayern Munich is one of those with the former Manchester City man on course to become a free agent. The other name that has been linked previously is Real Madrid's Rodrygo with Arteta a big fan of both players, but again the cost would likely be significant.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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