Arsenal now in contact with reps of attacker Mikel Arteta really likes – journalist

Arsenal are in contact with the representatives of Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams ahead of the summer transfer window, according to German journalist Christian Falk.

However, the Gunners will face competition from Bayern Munich for the Spain international after the Bundesliga club joined the race to recruit him.

As revealed by The Athletic journalist David Ornstein, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and those involved at the North London club really like Williams, and they were willing to sign him during the January transfer window.

However, the financial demands the Gunners would have to meet to make a move happen prevented them from pursuing a deal.

The 22-year-old winger has a release clause of around €60 million, and while Arsenal could be willing to activate it in the summer, they will face fierce rivalry from other European bigwigs for his services.

Williams ended last season with eight goals and 16 assists and has weighed in with nine goals and seven assists in 36 appearances so far in 2024-25.

He is capable of playing through the middle as a number 9 and on both wings, and the Gunners could do with such a player as they look to bolster their attack ahead of next season.

Injuries and a lack of quality depth in the final third have dealt a huge blow on their title chances this term, and they have found themselves 15 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool with ten games left in the campaign.

Arsenal will give their all in the pursuit of the Reds until the end, but they need another forward next season no matter what happens at the end of 2024-25, and signing Williams will go a long way in strengthening their squad going forward.

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