Journalist Dean Jones has suggested that Arsenal may have to be prepared to offer one transfer target a contract worth nearly £300,000-a-week if they want to complete a deal in the summer transfer window.
Arsenal are definitely going to be one side to watch in the summer with Mikel Arteta’s men competing for the Premier League for the last two years, while they also reached the knockout stages of the Champions League this season.
The Gunners will be looking for the final pieces of the jigsaw which can get them across the line – if they do miss out on the title this year – and they have reportedly already held talks over one potential target.
Arsenal are admirers of Nico Williams, who is enjoying an outstanding season in La Liga with Athletic, scoring four goals and contributing 11 assists.
Arsenal target Nico Williams looking for £300,000-a-week deal at next club
Arsenal have held discussions over a potential move for Williams, who has a release clause worth £43 million.
But it would appear that the Gunners would have to be prepared to make the 21-year-old one of their highest-paid players if they want to secure his signature, with Dean Jones telling Ranks FC that he was stunned by the starlet’s demands.
“Nico Williams also looking for huge wages, I’m surprised at the numbers that have been mentioned to me of what he’s looking for in terms of personal terms. Extremely high, like literally would make him the top earner at most clubs in the Premier League,” he said.
“When the number was mentioned to me, it was close to £300,000 from what I was told. £300,000-a-week, I was like what? And then I looked up his current salary and wow, he’s already on £200,000-a-week basically. I couldn’t believe that.”
Someone is likely to take the risk this summer
Arsenal apparently made Kai Havertz their highest-paid player when he signed last summer, with the German agreeing a deal apparently worth £330,000-a-week.
So if the Gunners did hand Williams the terms he was looking for, they would be looking for the youngster to make a serious impact from the outset.
The Spain international is able to play on either wing, which will boost his chances of success, with Arsenal crying out for someone who can push Bukayo Saka.
But obviously, it would be a potential gamble to offer him such a hefty contract at this stage of his career.
However, given his release clause, if Arsenal do not do a deal, you would imagine that someone else will.