Arsenal have long been linked with Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, with his future in Spain far from certain.
Mikel Arteta may see Williams as the ideal addition to his attack this summer. The 21-year-old can play on both wings, and would inject a lethal blend of speed and final third output to his side.
Arsenal may be able to secure Williams for £43m as a result of a release clause, but it is uncertain whether the Spain International wants to leave Athletic Club and the Basque Country to move to England.
Williams is set to feature for Spain in the upcoming European Championships, and he has now spoken out about his future, insisting that he does not want to think about anything until his tournament campaign is concluded.
Nico Williams speaks out over future amid Arsenal links
Speaking via Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Williams claimed that whilst he is happy at San Mames, nothing will be decided over his future until after the Euros.
“I’m very happy at Athletic, it’s the club that has given me everything, the one that has bet on me 100%. I’m very happy in Bilbao and that’s all I have to say,” he stated.
“I’m pretty clear, in the end, as I told you, the Athletic is my house, I’m very happy, and what I want to do is focus on the Euro Cup 100% and I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
“I have to be focused on one thing, I don’t like things that have no relevance at the time, I have told my agent that I don’t want to know anything until the Eurocup is over, I am 100% focused.”
“In the end I was very comfortable in Bilbao, I knew I wanted to continue, both sides we paired it and I was very happy and decided to renew for the team of my dreams,” he stated of his contract renewal earlier this season.
Why Arsenal should keep an eye on Nico Williams at the Euros
Williams has predominantly started on the right wing under Ernesto Valverde at Athletic Club, but his role with the Spain team will be different.
Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal will start on the right for Spain, with Williams now likely to beat Real Sociedad’s Mikel Oyarzabal to a spot on the left wing.
This will be a good chance to see him in action in a different system, and in a position different to the one he has played in for most of the season. If he succeeds on the left, it will show that he can replace Gabriel Martinelli on that side, whilst also being able to play alongside him as cover for Bukayo Saka on the right.
Arsenal players and transfer targets at Euro 2024
In this week’s episode of Cannon Fire – The Arsenal Insider Podcast, Will Jones and Rahul Lakhani discuss the European Championships. With 11 Arsenal players set to feature at the tournament, the pair debated which players could be fighting for their futures, and which are destined to succeed on the international stage.