Arsenal have turned their attention away from one player after learning about his huge wage demands.
Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar will have a list of players they would like to sign in this window. The Gunners have been linked with plenty of names, and they have even faced a rejection already.
Arsenal wanted to sign Benjamin Sesko, but he snubbed them and decided to pen a new contract at RB Leipzig.
The North Londoners have since turned their attention to a wide forward instead of an out-and-out striker.
One extremely rapid player has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates, but it looks like that transfer will not be happening.
Arsenal back away from signing Nico Williams for two reasons
Nico Wiliams has been linked with a move to Arsenal for a few months now.
The Spanish winger, who has a £43 million release clause in his contract (Guardian), has made a fantastic name for himself in recent years. He is one of Athletic Bilbao’s most important players, and he had a fine 2023/24 campaign.
Williams, still only 21, scored eight goals and provided 19 assists last season, and he is on the radar of multiple top clubs as a result.
On paper, he would be a fine signing for the Gunners. He can play on either wing and his ‘incredible‘ pace makes him a real threat every time he plays.
However, GiveMeSport claim that Arsenal are no longer pursuing a move for Williams.
Firstly, the report claims that the 21-year-old seems to have his heart set on a move to Barcelona this summer. Lamine Yamal has even urged him to make that move.
Then, the bigger reason why Arsenal have decided to back away from signing Williams is his ‘lofty wage demands’ this summer.
Reports have claimed that Williams is demanding a salary of nearly £300,000-a-week, which would make him Arsenal’s highest earner ahead of the likes of Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.
That has led to ‘Arteta turning his attentions elsewhere’.
Arsenal could reignite move to sign Premier League winger
With Williams seemingly out of reach for Arsenal, the Gunners have to look elsewhere.
The Premier League runners-up already have Saka and Gabriel Martinelli out wide, while Leandro Trossard and Jesus can also play on the flanks.
Three of the four names above are right-footed players, so we think Arsenal should push for a left-footed option in this window – someone who can do what Saka does for the Gunners.
In the same report, GMS claim that Arsenal could choose to revive their interest in Wolves star Pedro Neto, who has been on the Gunners’ radar for a long time.
Neto, however, will not be cheap. The report claims Wolves have slapped a £60 million price tag on their star winger.
It remains to be seen if Arsenal would be willing to pay such a big fee for someone who will most likely be a backup next season.