BREAKING NEWS: Liverpool and Barcelona came with a good offer but I choose to join Arsenal because of this particular Arsenal player,I don’t want anything that will jeopardize our friendship and I hope I won’t regret my decisions later”, Nico Williams named the ONE Arsenal player that convinced Him to accept Arsenal offer
BREAKING NEWS: Liverpool and Barcelona came with a good offer but I choose to join Arsenal because of this particular Arsenal player,I don’t want anything that will jeopardize our friendship and I hope I won’t regret my decisions later”, Nico Williams named the ONE Arsenal player that convinced Him to accept Arsenal offer
After Liverpool were crowned Premier League champions on Sunday and Arsenal suffered a bruising defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday night, Mikel Arteta’s side suddenly find their season hanging in the balance.
Arsenal are still not guaranteed a place in next season’s Champions League and can’t afford any more slip-ups in the Premier League. At the same time, with only a one-goal deficit to overturn in next week’s Champions League semi-final second leg, Arteta faces a major balancing act.
Away from action the on-pitch, attention is already beginning to turn toward the summer transfer window and how Arsenal can close the gap on Liverpool next season. Transfer rumours continue to dominate the headlines and they are only intensifying as the end of the campaign approaches.
With that in mind, football.london has rounded up some of the biggest Arsenal transfer stories from the last 24 hours – and what they could mean moving forward.
Bilbao issue Nico Williams warning
Athletic Club boss Ernesto Valverde has revealed the La Liga side are hopeful of keeping hold of star winger Nico Williams amid renewed interest from Barcelona and the Premier League.
The 22-year-old has been linked with a move away from his boyhood club for more than a year, with speculation initially sparked by his standout performances for Spain at Euro 2024. However, no transfer materialised, and he chose to remain in Bilbao.
That hasn’t stopped the rumours, which have resurfaced ahead of the summer transfer window – with Arsenal among the clubs once again reportedly in the mix. Despite the mounting interest, Valverde remains hopeful that Williams will stay.
“Nico is a very important player for us, it’s true,” he told the media ahead of their game against Manchester United on Thursday. Having the season he had and winning the Euros with Spain had a big impact on him.
“There was speculation [last summer] but we hope he’s in Athletic for many years. We hope he’s with us next season because we want the best players, of course.”
football.london says: “This is shaping up to be one of the standout transfer sagas of the summer, if a move does indeed happen. Barcelona remain the favourites, but their ongoing financial issues could pave the way for Arsenal to make a serious push for his signature.
“If reports are to be believed, a transfer is likely this summer, with Williams having already given his club an additional year. That said, things can change quickly, and he has previously shown his loyalty and connection to Bilbao. Still, any “hands-off” warnings from the club are unlikely to deter serious suitors.
