Nico Williams sets Arsenal ULTIMATUM

Nico Williams has issued Arsenal an ultimatum if they want to sign him summer.

The Gunners are leading the chase for the Athletic Bilbao sensation but they will have to get a move on if they want to bring him to the Emirates.

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Sport reports that Williams has informed the Gunners that he wants his future resolved by July 15.

If he is to join a new club – with Barcelona the main rivals to Arsenal – the transfer must be completed by this date so that he can have a full pre-season with his club for 2024/25.

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Will Arsenal sign Williams?

Arsenal have made Williams their top target for the wing this summer, with reports circulating in recent days that they are getting closer to striking a deal.

FootballTransfers previously confirmed that the Gunners were in talks with Williams’ representatives and had been put into pole position for the deal by their new sporting director Andrea Berta.

Arsenal are happy to trigger Williams’ €58 million release clause in his Athletic contract but his high wage demands have made negotiations over personal terms tricky.

Barcelona also wish to sign Williams but their financial situation makes a deal difficult.

Arsenal and Barcelona were in a two-way tussle to sign Williams last summer but the player eventually stayed at Athletic Bilbao.

Barca had been particularly desperate to sign the Athletic winger last summer but were unable to complete a deal for the same financial reasons.

It has long since been claimed that Williams would ideally rather join Barca if that move is still on the table.

Williams at Euro 2024

Williams was one of the stars of Euro 2024 with electric performances as Spain won the trophy.

He scored in the 2-1 final win over England and was one of the players of the tournament.

His best performance was arguably against Italy where he tore apart the right-back Giovanni Di Lorenzo and set up the winner – an own goal by Riccardo Calafiori.

He also scored a fantastic goal in the win over Georgia in the last-16.

The 22-year-old Williams is considered one of the most exciting young wingers in all of Europe.

Blessed with lightning pace and dribbling skills, he has a promising future in the game.

After making his debut for Athletic in 2021, Williams has scored 29 goals in 162 games.

He has also scored five goals in 26 games for Spain, and travelled to the 2022 World Cup.

This season he has nine goals in 40 games.