Arsenal ‘sources’ have now stated their surprise over the financial demands from one rumoured transfer target.
The Gunners are expected to spend big once again this summer having last year spent over £200m on new signings, including the club-record arrival of Declan Rice followed by big-money acquisitions of Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
With Arsenal in need of a striker and a midfielder this summer, there’s a real expectation that the Gunners could match of even surpass their spending total from last year, with Mikel Arteta keen to bridge the gap between the north London side and Manchester City.
Yet one target could now be out of reach due to his financial demands.
Clubs surprised by Nico Williams’ financial demands amid Arsenal interest
According to journalist Charles Watts, clubs have been surprised by the wage demands of Nico Williams, a forward Arsenal are reportedly interested in signing this summer.
The Spanish international recently signed a new long-term contract with Athletic Club with a release clause worth £43m, yet it appears that Williams’ wages could be a big stumbling block for any club looking to sing the attacker.
READ MORE: Arsenal 24/25 confirmed signings, transfers in and out, loan exits and releases
Watts said: “The thing about Nico Williams, and I have heard this from multiple different sources, is that he’s asking for big, big money to move, and a lot of clubs are very surprised at the money that he would want to make the move.
“He has a release clause that’s attractive, but the wages are very high, Athletic can afford to pay their players good wages due to their ‘Basque only’ transfer policy, and I think that’s what putting a lot of clubs off when it actually comes to activating that release clause.”
Arsenal should not consider Williams after wage revelation
Arsenal’s wage bill is naturally one of the biggest in the Premier League, yet the work done by Arteta over the years to bring the figures down to a manageable and controlled manner has been one of the Basque coach’s best achievements with the Gunners.
And whilst Williams would be a good signing and fit the bill for what Arsenal are looking for, bringing in the attacker on his potential wage demands could break the structure Arteta has done so well to create.
Indeed, Arsenal have adopted to handing out wages only to players who truly deserve them, and in Williams, the youngster is simply too unproven to be handed a similar salary to that of Gabriel Jesus or Havertz.