New Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta has already met with Nico Williams’ agent ahead of a potential summer move, according to reports.
Santi Aouna and Dahbia Hattabi broke the news for Foot Mercato on Wednesday that Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta had met with Nico Williams’ agent in recent days. Berta reportedly used the meeting to discuss a possible future for the player with the Gunners.
Ed Aarons confirms for The Guardian that Arsenal are exploring a summer move for Williams, and that Berta has indeed held talks with the player’s representatives in one of his first acts in the job.
Aarons adds that Arsenal have heavily scouted Williams for two years and considered a move last summer, only deciding against it when informed that the player wanted to say with Athletic Club for another year.
But this summer is different, with Williams reportedly expected to push for a move. As well as Arsenal, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea are believed to be in the race.
Gary Jacob reports for The Times that Arsenal have renewed their interest in Williams through Berta this week, with the new sporting director having a brief to get deals over the line.
Williams has a release clause of around £50m, which isn’t too unreasonable, but he does also want a wage rise from £170,000-a-week to more than £250,000-a-week.
John Cross of the Mirror reports that Williams wages have always been the main issue in trying to sign him, and that hasn’t changed.
Winger Williams has nine goals and seven assists for Athletic Club this season, over the course of 38 games.
The player has seen an uptick in form recently, with seven of those goal contributions coming in his last eight club fixtures. He also scored for Spain in the Nations League quarter-finals against the Netherlands over the March international break.
For the time being, the 22-year-old has plenty of football to hold his attention, including the Europa League quarter-finals kicking off a week from now.