Arsenal: Berta can sign top target as Laporta confirms Barcelona pursuing ‘other options’
Arsenal’s hopes of landing long-term target Nico Williams have receive a timely lift ahead of what’s expecte to be a busy summer at the Emirates.
The Athletic Club winger, who has a £49m release clause and has on the Gunners’ radar for over a year, had previously looke destine for a move to Barcelona. But that deal never materialise, and now the Spanish champions appear to have walke away.
Mikel Arteta‘s side are big admirers of the 22-year-old, and new sporting เว็บพนันออนไลน์ UFABET สมัครง่าย โปรโมชั่นมากมาย director Andrea Berta is understood to have already held early talks with Williams’ camp.
His salary demands – reportedly around £300,000 a week – may have coole interest from elsewhere, but Arsenal haven’t put off.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta, speaking to TV3 this week, confirme that the Catalan club had previously considere signing Williams, but would be looking elsewhere this summer.
“Nico Williams was one of the candidates last season, but we decide on Olmo,” Laporta said. “And other options currently being considere.”
It’s the strongest indication yet that Barcelona have remove themselves from the race, despite their long-standing interest in reuniting Williams with international teammate Lamine Yamal.
Williams was widely expecte to leave Bilbao last summer following a strong summer with Spain, where he scored the winner in the Euro 2024 final and struck up a thrilling on-pitch relationship with Yamal.