Exclusive: Arsenal keeping close tabs on £50m winger who Mikel Arteta is absolutely obsessed with
Today at 05:03 AM
- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Arsenal have made a really poor start to the season.
Arsenal were tipped to win the Premier League title by many but those aspirations look in serious jeopardy.
| Position | Team | PlayedMP | WonW | DrawnD | LostL | ForGF | AgainstGA | DiffGD | PointsPts |
| 1 | LiverpoolLiverpool | 11 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 6 | 15 | 28 |
| 2 | Man CityManchester City | 11 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 22 | 13 | 9 | 23 |
| 3 | ChelseaChelsea | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 13 | 8 | 19 |
| 4 | ArsenalArsenal | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 18 | 12 | 6 | 19 |
| 5 | Nottm ForestNottingham Forest | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 19 |
| 6 | BrightonBrighton | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 19 | 15 | 4 | 19 |
| 7 | FulhamFulham | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 18 |
| 8 | NewcastleNewcastle | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 11 | 2 | 18 |
| 9 | Aston VillaAston Villa | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 0 | 18 |
| 10 | TottenhamTottenham | 11 | 5 | 1 | 5 | 23 | 13 | 10 | 16 |
Mikel Arteta’s men reside in fourth place having won just five of their opening 11 games, so there’s evidently a need to strengthen in the January transfer window.
A specialist striker is certainly needed, as is another forward to provide competition for the out-of-form Gabriel Martinelli.
Arteta missed out on a number of his top targets during the summer window and now TBR Football can exclusively reveal that they’ve reignited interest in one.
Arsenal keeping close tabs on Nico Williams
Nico Williams' suitors have been alerted to the possibility that he could be tempted into leaving Spain in the future.
After a brilliant European Championship with Spain – he emerged as a top target for Barcelona.
However, they turned their attention to Dani Olmo and snapped him up for RB Leipzig.
One reason they did not push for Williams was the fact they already had Raphinha and Ferran Torres, and the former is emerging as one of Europe's most feared forwards this season.
With that in mind – we are told that the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Newcastle are all monitoring the situation and are being kept aware of the situation.
Williams has a £50m release clause
Williams’ release clause stands at just shy of £50million but no clubs looked to engage that earlier as the player was not looking to leave.
Going into 2025 it remains to be seen if that situation will change but if it does, TBR Football understands that he will have a plethora of options to move to England – if he wants.
However, we understand that a move to Barcelona where he could and would link up with good friend Lamine Yamal, remains his preference.
Arteta was obsessed with the idea of signing Williams in the summer, so perhaps Arsenal could really push to land his signature in January.
