Exclusive: Arsenal growing excited as £48.1m winger Mikel Arteta loves now open to Premier League move
Yesterday at 05:15 AM
TBR Football understand Arsenal are now feeling excited about the fact Nico Williams is open to leaving Spain.
The Athletic Bilbao No.10 made a name for himself as one of the best wingers on the planet last season, scoring eight goals and providing 19 assists in 37 games at club level, before helping Spain win UEFA Euro 2024 as well, netting against England in the final.
Mikel Arteta is understood to be obsessed with Williams as the Spaniard aims to inject some attacking flair into his frontline – which has been decimated by injuries of late.
Bukayo Saka could be absent until March with a torn hamstring, while the Gunners are also without Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling due to muscle and knee issues respectively.
With Arsenal in need of a new winger, sources have informed TBR Football that the Gunners have now received some encouragement regarding Nico Williams.
Nico Williams ready to forget about Barcelona and is now open to Premier League move
Graeme Bailey – Chief Correspondent at TBR Football – has been told the Spain international is now considering a move to England after realising his dream move to Barcelona is highly unlikely.
The Spanish giants are currently unable to even register Dani Olmo – a £51m signing made from RB Leipzig back in August – so there are major doubts over their ability to trigger the €58m (£48.1m) release clause Williams has written into his contract.
As a result, TBR Football understand the 22-year-old is now open to leaving Spain, a development which has left Arsenal very excited, along with Liverpool and Manchester City.
Williams is believed to feel he could spend a few seasons in the Premier League before joining Barcelona later on in his career.
Sources add that Arsenal do have money to spend this month, with the message from the Emirates Stadium being one of quality over quantity in the market.
Arsenal have also discussed Mohammed Kudus move
Williams is not the only winger on Arsenal’s radar.
TBR Football are aware the Gunners admire West Ham No.14 Mohammed Kudus and have held internal discussions about moving for the Ghana international, so a deal cannot be ruled out at this stage.
However, we understand West Ham have decided to sack Julen Lopetegui and speak to Graham Potter – so the Hammers may want to keep Kudus in east London for the benefit of the Englishman.
