The favourites to sign Athletic Bilbao attacker Nico Williams have reportedly been revealed amid links with Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona.
The Euro 2024 winner has not quite been able to carry on the momentum from his successful summer, but he nevertheless boasts a respectable nine goals and seven assists from 38 games in all tournaments this season.
Williams has had a direct hand in nine goals - four of his own and five assists - in 25 appearances in La Liga, where Athletic sit fourth in the table as they pursue Champions League football for the 2025-26 season.
The Spain international also shone in the Europa League last-16 tie with Roma, bagging a brace in a 3-1 second-leg victory, which sealed a fabulous 4-3 aggregate comeback win for the Basque giants.
However, whether Williams will still be around at Athletic next season is another question entirely, as a selection of Europe's top clubs are said to be queuing up to present their offers in the summer transfer window.
Arsenal 'leading race' to sign Williams this summer
© Imago
While Williams remains under contract with Williams for the next two seasons, there is reportedly a €58m (£49.2m) release clause written into his agreement, which the continent's top teams will have no problem forking out.
Arsenal are said to have taken the first steps towards winning the race by initiating contact with his camp, and according to 90Min, Mikel Arteta's side are indeed leading the race for his services.
The Gunners recently confirmed the appointment of Andrea Berta as their new sporting director, and the Italian is extremely well-connected in Spanish football from his time in the Atletico Madrid offices.
Berta's influence has seemingly put Arsenal at the front of the pack to capture Williams, who has also caught the eye of Barcelona and Chelsea with his displays for club and country over the past couple of seasons.
Bayern Munich were tipped to make a move for the 22-year-old as a possible successor to Leroy Sane - also linked with Arsenal - but the report adds that the German giants have now withdrawn from the race.
Could Williams arrival trigger an Arsenal exit?
© Imago
If Williams was to make the move to North London for the 2025-26 season, the expectation would be that he would immediately slot into Arteta's 4-3-3 as Arsenal's new left-winger.
That role is currently being shared by Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, neither of whom has set the world alight this season, but the former was particularly lively in Tuesday's 2-1 win over Fulham.
Like Williams, Martinelli's contract is also up in the summer of 2027 - albeit with the option of a further year - but it has been reported that talks have started with the Brazilian's camp over an extension.
On the contrary, Trossard's deal only runs until the end of next season, and given that the Belgian is seven years Martinelli's senior and already in his 30s, it would not be surprising to see Williams's prospective arrival force him out.
Ben Knapton
