An old foe of Arsenal’s, Jose Mourinho, has given his verdict on the future of Nico Williams, who has been heavily linked with a transfer from Athletic Bilbao to the Gunners.
It came ahead of the manager’s Fenerbahce side facing off with Spanish opposition in European competition in midweek.
Arsenal have linked with a transfer for Nico Williams, with the young forward showing plenty of potential to be one of the best in the world.
A deal in January seems unlikely but not out of the picture, with Williams having a £50m release clause in his contract.
It would make negotiations between clubs rather simple, but there is a challenge in trying to convince the forward himself to move to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal’s hopes of doing that certainly haven’t been helped by Jose Mourinho though, with the former Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United boss giving his verdict on the situation.
- READ MORE:
Jose Mourinho gives Nico Williams to Arsenal transfer verdict
Nico Williams has plenty of suitors out there in the transfer market, most notably in La Liga and the Premier League.
Whether he can be tempted to leave Athletic Bilbao remains to be seen, though Mourinho has given his verdict on the situation.
Speaking ahead of his Fenerbahce side’s clash with the Spanish outfit, he said on Williams: “In the Euros, people were all saying [Lamine] Yamal, Yamal, Yamal. He’s a wonderful boy, but I, personally, prefer more of Nico Williams. I hope he ends up at Real Madrid.”
Whether the 22-year-old would be able to fit in at Real Madrid is unknown, especially given the wealth of forward options already at their disposal.
That said, Mourinho’s comments may only spur feelings towards a move elsewhere in Spain, rather than England, which would certainly annoy those supporters who want him at the club.
Arsenal fans want Williams to replace Gabriel Martinelli, after recent reports suggested the Spain international could join to bolster the left flank.
- READ MORE: Mikel Arteta admits his rare mistake with £25m Arsenal star – he was flying under Unai Emery
Nico Williams compared to Gabriel Martinelli
If Arsenal were to sign Williams, it could well spell an end for Gabriel Martinelli, who has struggled for form as of late.
With Leandro Trossard also in the mix on that left flank, but capable of playing across the frontline in a squad capacity, there is clearly plenty of competition for places.
While there is a feeling of frustration surrounding Martinelli in recent weeks, it’s worth noting that he is just one year older than his counterpart.
The statistics in terms of output suggests that while Williams is more creative, Martinelli is the bigger goal threat.
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Nico Williams | 142 | 22 | 31 |
| Gabriel Martinelli | 194 | 45 | 27 |
Each player clearly has their own skillset that makes them unique, with Martinelli better for games that get stretched and require direct pace running at the backline.
Williams may have a little more unpredictability to his game in build-up, making it difficult to predict his next move.
Both may work as a rotational pair, picking one for their best situation in a game state, though whether that is likely remains to be seen.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
