Arsenal are keen on adding more speed to their attack for next season, and may have identified their perfect solution in Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams.
The 21-year-old has had an outstanding campaign, with seven goals and 17 assists in 36 games across all competitions as his side won the Copa Del Rey and secured a fifth-place finish in La Liga.
Mikel Arteta is keen on adding a winger to his squad. Arsenal need more speed at their disposal, and more cover is needed for Bukayo Saka.
Michael Olise has been linked, but given that he is predominantly a right-winger, he may not start regularly whilst Saka is fit.
A winger who can play on both sides, to either play alongside Saka or to cover for him, would be ideal, and Williams may be perfect in this regard, and Arsenal may now believe that he is the player they need to go all out for.
Arsenal ready to pay £43m release clause to sign Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams
A report from Football Transfers has now claimed that Arsenal are now “prepared” to pay Williams’ release clause, which stands at around £43m.
Arteta is reportedly keen on adding Williams on the left-wing, with Gabriel Martinelli available on the right when Saka is unavailable, as seen on the final day of the season against Everton.
Paris Saint-Germain are also reportedly keen on him, and are also prepared to pay the clause, and Arsenal’s intention to sign him does not mean a deal is anywhere close to completion.
Arsenal need to convince Nico Williams to leave Athletic Bilbao
Williams is currently thriving at his boyhood club, alongside his brother Inaki, and with Ernesto Valverde’s side in the Europa League next season, there is plenty of incentive for him to stay.
Players from the Basque region and Athletic Bilbao often hold strong attachments to their side, and Arsenal may find that even if they pay his release clause, there will be a battle to convince him that the Emirates is the right destination for him.
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Arteta may be the trump card here, having grown up in the Basque region himself, and with Arsenal also targeting Real Sociedad star Martin Zubimendi, it will be a good test of his pull if he can convince both players to move to North London away from their hometowns in Northern Spain.