Arsenal Football Club is actively pursuing the signing of a highly-rated forward, Nico Williams, from Athletic Bilbao.
The club is willing to meet the player’s £50 million release clause to secure his services for manager Mikel Arteta.
This move is part of Arsenal’s efforts to strengthen their squad and compete with Manchester City for the Premier League title.
Arsenal’s sporting director, Edu, is leading the charge to sign a new attacker, with the club recognizing the need for depth behind star player Bukayo Saka.
Saka had an impressive season, scoring 20 goals and providing 14 assists across all competitions, but the lack of equivalent quality backups is a concern.
The club is keen to ensure sufficient rotation options to prevent relying too heavily on Saka.
Nico Williams, 21, has impressed at Euro 2024 with Spain, helping them reach the semi-finals, and registered 19 assists in all competitions for Bilbao last season.
His performances have attracted interest from top clubs, including Arsenal, Chelsea, and Barcelona.
Spanish media suggest that Arsenal and Chelsea are competing to sign Williams, who currently earns £200,000 per week at Bilbao.
Arsenal has directly informed Williams that they are prepared to pay his full £50 million release clause to bring him to the Emirates Stadium.
However, it appears that Williams currently prefers a move to Barcelona over the Premier League.
This development may disappoint both Arsenal and Liverpool, who are also interested in signing the forward.
The pursuit of Williams highlights Arsenal’s ambition to strengthen their squad and compete with the best teams in the league.
The club’s willingness to meet the player’s release clause demonstrates their commitment to securing top talent.
While the outcome of this transfer saga remains uncertain, it is clear that Arsenal is determined to build a strong squad to challenge for the Premier League title.
