‘That’s not the issue’… Nico Williams wage demands debunked as real problem with Arsenal transfer revealed

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Arsenal will need to convince Nico Williams to swap Spain for England when they attempt to sign the winger in the summer, Arsenal Insider understands.

Williams is enjoying a relatively fruitful campaign for Athletic Club this season, netting eleven goals and providing seven assists in all competitions thus far.

This form and his exploits for the Spanish national team at Euro 2024 have prompted interest from a host of clubs throughout Europe, including the Gunners and Barcelona.

Williams has been linked to Arsenal for some time now, and Andrea Berta will be looking to finally make the deal happen in the upcoming transfer window.

• READ MORE: ‘No worries with either’… Arsenal on the brink of agreeing new long-term contracts with two key players

Nico Williams isn’t set on a move to Arsenal yet

Reports emerged last week that Williams will demand potential suitors pay him in excess of £250,000 a week.

These outlandish wage demands have been touted as a possible stumbling block in Arsenal’s attempts to lure the Spaniard to N5.

However, TBR Football’s transfer expert Graeme Bailey told Arsenal Insider that this isn’t the primary issue behind Arsenal’s potential inability to secure Williams’ services.

“He’s on very good money at Bilbao,” he said.

“But, when we’re talking wage demands, he’s not asking to be the highest paid player at the club, in theory. That’s not really the issue with Williams.

“The issue is does he really want to come to England? That’s the one big question. His people are saying to the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea that he will consider it.

“There’s that feeling in Spanish circles that he doesn’t want to leave Spain. If he stays at Bilbao for another year, does that guarantee him his move to Barcelona? Possibly. Will he do that? He really does want to play for Barcelona with Lamine Yamal.

“The circumstances mean that’s unlikely this summer, so does he come to England for a couple of years maybe? It’s a tough situation. We know Berta has spoken to Williams’ people and that Arsenal love him.”

Convincing Williams to swap the Basque Country for N5 will certainly be difficult, given players from this region of Spain generally favour remaining in the local area.

If a move to Barcelona is also potentially on the table, then Arsenal may have a hard time selling their project to the 22-year-old.

Thus, Berta must start lining up potential alternatives, in the very plausible scenario that the Gunners can’t sign Williams.

Who should be Arsenal’s primary alternative transfer target to Nico Williams?

There are plenty of other exciting wide options on the market that Arsenal should be considering.

Rafael Leao is being considered by Arsenal as a Williams alternative, although the AC Milan man doesn’t possess the defensive intensity Mikel Arteta demands and would likely cost a fortune.

Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo may be the most astute potential pick-up.

While unlikely to develop into a superstar, Semenyo would be relatively cheap and he has the right mix of attributes that make him perfectly suited to an Arteta side.

Exceptional in the air, the Ghanaian would be a viable outlet for David Raya’s long balls, while he works exceptionally hard out of possession.

Offensively, he manages a high volume of shots and is an efficient dribbler – both qualities that would help add an additional element of chaos to what is often quite a sterile attack.