Nico Williams latest as Arsenal make transfer decision amid Barcelona, Bayern Munich ‘interest’ in winger

Arsenal have reportedly determined to chill their curiosity in Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams, with Barcelona and Bayern Munich the main candidates within the race for his siganture.

The Gunners’ second-placed end within the 2024-25 Premier League season noticed them finish as runners-up for a 3rd consecutive marketing campaign, with many followers and pundits lamenting the membership’s lack of firepower.

In reality, supervisor Mikel Arteta’s facet scored simply 69 targets final time period, 17 fewer than eventual champions Liverpool managed, and the top coach will probably deal with his workforce’s offensive points within the switch market.

The Londoners have been linked with numerous ahead gamers given the likes of left-winger Gabriel Martinelli and striker Kai Havertz have been criticised.

Nevertheless, David Ornstein of The Athletic stories that Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams is now not a candidate to switch Martinelli, although he claimed that Actual Madrid attacker Rodrygo is of curiosity to the Gunners.

Will Arsenal remorse lacking out on Williams?

Williams showcased throughout Euro 2024 that he’s able to threatening the most effective defences, particularly when he’s paired with artistic gamers able to enjoying passes in behind opposition defences.

The 22-year-old possesses immense tempo, and he would supply Arsenal a extra direct route by to objective, probably mixing effectively with the incisive passing of talisman Bukayo Saka on the correct flank.

Ought to Arteta look to signal Rodrygo as an alternative, there may be an argument that Arsenal will lose the flexibility to stretch the pitch, as whereas the Actual Madrid star is extra comfy on the ball than Williams, he isn’t as athletically gifted.

Martinelli may grow to be an possibility off the bench, nevertheless it stays to be seen if he can be happy with a backup position contemplating he has been a part of the beginning XI for numerous years.

It needs to be famous that Williams has by no means scored greater than six targets in a league season – he did register 11 assists in 2023-24 – although Rodrygo has solely scored greater than 9 league targets in a season as soon as.

If Arsenal fail to land the Athletic Bilbao winger, then Arteta should make sure that he finds methods of including tempo into the workforce in different areas akin to within the centre-forward place.

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