Arsenal have 'held talks' with £42m Newcastle and Liverpool target

Arsenal have reportedly ‘held talks’ with the Athletic Bilbao striker Nico Williams’ representatives but they are set to have plenty of Premier League competition.

The HITC has reported that Williams, who is keen on joining Barcelona this summer, has also been enjoying interest from Arsenal, Newcastle, Aston Villa and Liverpool.

Arsenal are hopeful of bringing in another wide midfielder this summer as they seek to balance out the load currently on Bukayo Saka’s shoulders. Equally, Mikel Arteta will be seeking to close the gap on Manchester City’s dominance after Pep Guardiola’s squad beat the Gunners to the Premier League title by just two points and a huge summer of spending is anticipated with a new striker, new defensive midfielder and new left-back on the shopping list.

The Spain international, who has a reported release clause of £42 million, has long-hand admirers at Arsenal with the Gunners’ head coach said to be a huge fan of the pacey winger. Williams joined the Athletic Bilbao academy in 2013 and has gone on to make 122 senior appearances for the club, scoring 20 goals and registering 26 assists.

While he is being heavily linked with a move away from his boyhood side, not only will the Gunners face competition from multiple European sides, but also Catalan Giants Barca who are said to be the attacking midfielder’s preferred destination if he opts to leave the Estadio de San Mames.

It has been noted, however, that the rising Spanish star responded to the transfer rumours by admitting that he’s ‘very happy at Athletic’ and is said to have told his agent that he does not ‘want to know anything until the end of the European Championship.’

The star, who talent scout Jacek Kulig described as ‘incredible’, has been enjoying an impressive start to the Euros 2024 competition with Spain beating Croatia 3-0 in their opening Group B game.