Arsenal 'dream' transfer target must do one thing to green light £48m bid

Arsenal continue to hold interest in Euro 2024 winner and Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams with the January transfer window now officially open.

The Gunners have long been linked with a move for the 22-year-old, who has been a breakthrough star in Bilbao. Williams is viewed as an economically viable transfer for Arsenal with star boy Bukayo Saka struggling with an injury.

Still involved in the Premier League, Carabao Cup, FA Cup and Champions League, the fixtures come thick and fast for Mikel Arteta's men with strength in depth vital over the back end of the campaign. Saka had undergone surgery for a hamstring injury picked up against Crystal Palace last month and is set to be out for 'many weeks'.

Arsenal ready for £48m Williams swoop

That has caused a flurry of transfer links with wide players this month and one of those is Williams. The Spaniard had been named as a summer target for Arsenal but nothing came to fruition from those reports.

Now, Football Transfers claims that Arsenal are still monitoring a swoop for the player and are in 'ongoing discussions' with the winger's agent. The report adds that the London outfit are 'prepared to act swiftly' to secure Williams' signature with a £48 million release clause in his contract.

However, should Williams want to make the move to the Emirates Stadium, he must inform the club that he is ready and willing to make the switch to the Premier League. Any imminent Arsenal bid is dependent on confirmation from the player, who must play an active role in making the deal happen.

Football Transfers adds that it was the lack of explicit desire from Williams that stalled a summer transfer but that the Gunners have not written off a move, with a £48 million price tag significantly lower than other top players in that position on the continent.

Athletic Bilbao boss Ernesto Valverde, who hailed the winger as a 'game-changer' last season, has spoken about transfer rumours in recent days. He said: "I understand the situation well with Nico. I understand that he will be with us but I am not the one who decides that. Myself, the players, the people involved, understand that he is going to stay with us but I don't want to risk anything with the situation."

Euro 2024 winner a ‘dream’ signing for Mikel Arteta

Williams has managed two goals and five assists so far this season for Bilbao in 23 appearances across all competitions, having plundered eight goals and 19 assists last term. Speaking in November, Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit labelled the acquisition of Williams as a 'dream' signing for Arteta.

He told Instant Casino: "For me, Arteta knows that he's missing players, numbers in his squad, quality players in terms of rotation. He knows that, so at the end of the transfer market during the summer, he knew that he had no choice just to get Sterling because he didn't want to put the big money on the table for other players.

"I know that he was dreaming about Nico Williams, but he will never come to the Premier League. He will stay in Spain; he will go to Barcelona. Definitely. Sterling has been living a nightmare for years now.

"I think Sterling is probably one of the best examples of what life in the Premier League can do to a player that has tasted success after success after success. When you receive so much money for years and you win a lot of trophies, you're not starving anymore.

"You lose your passion; you lose your priorities sometimes and you're enjoying your life. I wonder if Sterling was starting his career that he would probably play differently. It was like that during my time as well. It's common for human beings."