Arsenal have received a massive blow in their pursuit of Chelsea and Barcelona attacking target Nico Williams.
Mikel Arteta is keen on adding more firepower to his squad this summer, and he has his eyes set on Athletic Club’s Nico Williams. But according to a report from Football Insider, Arsenal could find it very difficult to meet his wage demands. The overall financial package to bring him to North London could be a massive hurdle for them.
Williams has been a part of the Athletic Club setup since his childhood days. The Spaniard went up the ranks at some pace, and he has been a part of their first team since the summer of 2021. He has taken giant strides in recent seasons.
The 22-year-old was on fire last season as he contributed towards 26 goals, and he won the Copa del Rey. He then went on to win the European Championship with Spain. While quite a few top clubs wanted to sign him last summer, he decided to continue at Athletic Club for another year.
The Spanish international is enjoying another impressive season with 16 goal contributions in his 40 outings. While the young winger still has two years left on his deal at the Spanish club, he is expected to be on the move this summer.
Can Arsenal afford Nico Williams?
Arsenal are one of the clubs that are very keen on signing Nico Williams. While the Gunners already have Bukayo Saka on the right flank, they need someone with similar qualities on the opposite flank. The North London outfit consider the young Spanish winger an ideal fit for their project, and they have held high-level talks to sign him in recent days.
Williams will certainly help Arsenal take the next step, and both Mikel Arteta and Andre Berta want to add him to their squad. However, the Gunners could find his wage demands and the overall financial package to be a major stumbling block.
Arsenal have a massive decision to make as they will have to decide if they are willing to spend a big portion of their summer budget to sign him. If they do ahead and sign the 22-year-old who has a release clause worth just under £50 million, they might have to compromise in their pursuit of a marquee striker.
Chelsea and Barcelona are also keen on Williams
If Arsenal are unable to strike a deal for Nico Williams, Chelsea or Barcelona could look to make the most out of it. The Catalan giants have a long-standing interest in him, and the player also seems to have his heart set on a move to one of the biggest clubs in Spain.
Meanwhile, the Blues consider him an ideal fit for their project that focuses on signing the best young players. They seek more quality on the flanks, with Jadon Sancho likely to return to his parent club, and Williams could certainly be a great acquisition for them.
