Arsenal are the real winners from the latest Nico Williams transfer plan

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Arsenal’s pursuit of Nico Williams has taken a turn, but is it a blessing in disguise for the Gunners?

Mikel Arteta is a firm admirer of Williams, who caught the attention of the footballing world at Euro 2024.

Taking the trophy home alongside Arsenal duo Mikel Merino and David Raya, the winger instantly bolstered transfer attention surrounding him, with the Gunners one of the clubs keeping a close eye. 

Now that the summer transfer window has opened, it was thought that Arsenal’s links to the Spaniard would grow, however, Athletic Bilbao have been proactive with their plan to keep their star player on side.

Bilbao have offered Williams a new contract in a bid to keep him in the Basque Country, which makes Arteta’s task of luring the forward to North London even more challenging.  

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Arsenal must let Nico Williams transfer fascination pass

Williams has rejected transfers before due to his loyalty to Bilbao, which is one reason why it’s been difficult for clubs to sign him, despite the forward being protected by a slim release clause of £50m. 

The price for the star is a low one for interested clubs such as Arsenal to pay, but that doesn’t mean he’s the right player for Arteta.

Missing out on Williams might just be a blessing in disguise for those in North London, as his remarkable quality on the flank paints a slim picture of what the deal could bring.

Williams’ wage demands are wild as a result of the Basque club’s transfer policy, allowing a greater spend on salaries. 

In April, Mail Sport revealed that the winger will demand a weekly paycheque in the region of £400k to lure him away from Bilbao, a figure that would destroy Arsenal’s wage structure. 

The 22-year-old would arrive at Arsenal and earn more than any other player in the squad, something that doesn’t reflect the Gunners’ style with new signings.

It would be staggering to see Arsenal sanction a move for Williams, whose wages would not bode well at the Emirates.

Arsenal must learn their lesson when overpaying for wingers 

There are other ways for Arsenal to lure players than by wages; admittedly, for a club of the Gunners’ stature, this should be considered a last resort.

Naturally, players have demands, and for Williams, the demands are staggeringly high, which could run the risk of Arsenal dismantling their wage structure to accommodate a player whose success is not guaranteed. 

Though Arsenal wouldn’t overpay on Williams’ actual transfer fee, overpaying on wages is arguably just as detrimental, and history will tell you that those in N5 have already learned the hard way. 

After a terrific season in Ligue 1, Arsenal paid £72m to sign Nicolas Pepe, a player whose price tag did not reflect his impact at the Emirates.

Putting Williams’ one-versus-one quality aside, the Spaniard’s output is not exactly mind-blowing, contributing to ten goals in the 2024/25 edition of La Liga, two fewer contributions than Gabriel Martinelli. 

Arteta needs quality additions, and Williams could certainly represent that, but for the repercussions his salary demands could bring, the Gunners would have to assess just how worth it a move would be.