The major stumbling block that could see Arsenal lose out to Chelsea in £43m star transfer race

Arsenal are said to have been seeking a move for the Spanish international and Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams. However, the latest reports indicate that signing the Euro 2024 star could create a dressing room rift at the Emirates while both Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are said to have registered their own interest in the player too.

The Gunners’ hunt for a striker has significantly cooled in recent weeks, with RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko snubbing a move to north London in favour of a extending his Bundesliga stay while Joshua Zirkzee is nearing a move to AC Milan.

However, this has not deterred Mikel Arteta from continuing to strengthen his squad elsewhere and the impressively rapid winger Williams has fast become a key target.

The 21-year-old is rumoured to have a release clause in the region of £43 million which, for a player whose best years are arguably still to come, is relatively low. But the problem the N7 side could be faced with pertains to Williams’ apparent wage demands. According to Goal, the winger’s demands would place him as the second-highest earner at the club - a move which would undoubtedly ruffle the feathers of more senior Gunners stars.

Data from Spotrac suggests that Kai Havertz is the current highest earner, on £280,000-a-week with Gabriel Jesus just behind him on £265,000-a-week. Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard then come in next, both earning over £200,000-a-week.

A lot of Arteta’s recent success with the Gunners has been finding a strong team balance and sense of harmony, and as they seek to build on last campaign’s second-place finish, maintaining such unity remains of the utmost importance. The arrival, therefore, of a 21-year-old set to earn more than the club captain could feasibly set-off a hugely unwanted dressing room rift.

If Arsenal’s battles around wage demands weren’t enough, the Gunners are now set to face competition both from Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain as they seek attacking options to help fill the Kylian Mbappe-shaped void.

Chelsea, who are set to miss out on the proposed deal of Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise, have reportedly declared that Williams is the last ‘suitable’ alternative. While Todd Boehly is keen to bolster the attacking options at Stamford Bridge, the club is also reluctant to let another big European team steal yet another target.

However, with the winger hopeful of receiving no less than £240,000-a-week, the Blues could face a familiar wage complication as they seek to keep their books in check amid ongoing Financial Fair Play worries. However, this plight will be helped by Ian Maatsen’s impending big money move to Aston Villa.

Barcelona had also been heavily linked with a move for Williams - particularly due to Williams’ personal admiration for the club - however the Catalan Giants are currently contending with a hugely delicate financial situation which could preclude the entire summer transfer market.

The 21-year-old has made over 100 La Liga appearances with Athletic Bilbao since joining the senior squad in 2021. He also has 16 international appearances and most recently featured in the club’s 1-0 win over Italy at the European Championships in Germany.