James McNicholas previously reported for The Athletic that Williams remains Arsenal’s preferred candidate if they decide to sign a wide player this summer, but there have always been complications.
For a start, the €58m (£49m) release clause in Williams’ contract would need to be paid upfront, a significant expense to pay all in one go. Then there’s that interest from other clubs, primarily Barcelona.
22-year-old Williams scored eight goals and provided 19 assists in 37 appearances for Athletic Club in 2023/24, before scoring two goals and assisting one in six appearances for Spain’s Euro 2024-winning team.