Latest news with #NicoWilliams
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bayern Munich challenge Arsenal for La Liga superstar
Bayern Munich are the latest European powerhouse to show a transfer interest in Athletic Club forward Nico Williams. Vincent Kompany is assessing his options as he looks set to miss out to Liverpool in the race for Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz. Advertisement The Bavarians are also expecting Leroy Sane to leave as a free agent and Williams could be a perfect replacement for the Germany international. Barcelona chased Williams last summer, but Hansi Flick is not expected to revive his interest, as he aims to prioritise Luis Diaz. Wirtz joining Liverpool could cause a ripple effect and transfer insider Christian Falk believes Bayern Munich are ready to rival Arsenal for the 22-year-old. Bayern Munich's Nico Williams plan Falk outlines how Williams has been added to Kompany's shortlist as part of his Daily Briefing with Caught Offside alongside other stars from the Premier League. Nico Williams 'Bayern Munich are searching for a left winger. The current candidates are Cody Gakpo (Liverpool), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), Nico Williams (Athletic Club) and Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace),' he said. Advertisement 'The first rumours they were were seriously interested in Gakpo emerged in March. As Wirtz is not coming, they will stick to their system of two wingers, and Jamal Musiala in the centre.' Arsenal latest on Nico Williams Mikel Arteta is also planning a revamp at Arsenal with Real Sociedad's schemer Martin Zubimendi closing to joining the Gunners. Arteta is ready to activate his £51m release clause and Arsenal are in a similar position with Williams this summer. The Spain international has an exit clause of a similar amount and he is a long-term target for Arteta. Zubimendi will be the immediate priority for Arteta in the coming weeks, and that could give Bayern Munich a window to challenge for Williams, if his mind is not already made up on a switch to North London.
Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Times
Arsenal target Leroy Sané as they close in on Martin Zubimendi
Arsenal are showing strong interest in Leroy Sané as they close in on completing a deal for Martín Zubimendi. Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, worked with Sané, 29, at Manchester City and wants to target a winger this summer. Bayern Munich have been in talks with Sané, who is out of contract at the German club this month and has attracted interest from several teams. Sané's agent was due to meet Bayern on Wednesday. Sane scored 13 goals and claimed six assists across competitions this season, and ten and 13 respectively in the previous campaign. He joined Bayern from City in 2020. Arsenal have long pursued Nico Williams as their main left-wing target and met the Athletic Bilbao player's representatives in April. Although Williams has a £42million release clause, he is expected to want a wage of more than £250,000 a week. The 22-year-old scored 11 and made seven goals across competitions this season, helping Bilbao to the Europa League semi-finals. Arsenal want to give Zubimendi, 26, a medical before he joins up with Spain for the Nations League semi-final against France a week tomorrow (June 5). The club have tracked the Real Sociedad midfielder for a couple of seasons. He changed his mind on joining Liverpool last summer after they had been told he was willing to leave his boyhood club. Arsenal have been in talks about paying instalments rather than meeting his release clause of €60million (about £51million) and paying the money in one instalment, which would have an impact on their transfer kitty this summer. Zubimendi came through Real Sociedad's academy and has made more than 200 appearances since his debut in 2019. His 15 caps for Spain include featuring against England in the Euro 2024 final. His potential arrival as a holding midfielder could allow Declan Rice to move back to a No8 position alongside captain Martin Odegaard. Arsenal have been in talks to extend Thomas Partey's contract beyond June and hope to offload a number of fringe players. Nuno Tavares will join Lazio for about £7.9million due to a clause in his loan contract. Fábio Vieira, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Reiss Nelson, Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko have been made available. The futures of Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli are unclear.
BBC News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
La Liga: Champions Barcelona face Athletic Bilbao in final game
Update: Date: 20:02 BST Title: Post Content: Athletic Bilbao v Barcelona (20:00 BST) Oscar De Marcos make his final Athletic Bilbao appearance at right-back. Athletic Bilbao: Unai Simón, Yuri Berchiche, Aitor Paredes, Unai Núñez, Óscar De Marcos, Mikel Jauregizar, Íñigo Ruíz de Galarreta, Nico Williams, Unai Gómez, Alex Berenguer, Maroan Sannadi. Update: Date: 20:01 BST Title: Post Content: Athletic Bilbao have given Barcelona a guard of honour before both sides did the same for 36-year-old veteran Oscar de Marcos, who is playing his final game for the club. Update: Date: 19:59 BST Title: Good evening Content: And welcome to live text coverage of Barcelona's final game of the La Liga season as the champions aim to end the campaign on a high away to Athletic Bilbao.
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Arsenal can repeat transfer trick with Rodrygo as summer plans become clear
Real Madrid star Rodrygo is one of the left-wing options being linked with a summer move to Arsenal and a swoop for the Brazil international could see the Gunners follow a pattern Arsenal go into the summer transfer window in desperate need of a new striker, but a new left-winger is also high on their shopping list. Plenty of names have been linked, with the noise around Nico Williams not going away, but Rodrygo is the latest to be touted as the answer. The Real Madrid star has looked like the odd man out at the Bernabeu since Kylian Mbappe's arrival last summer, and that's unlikely to change when Xabi Alonso takes over as manager. He was left on the bench for the Clasico defeat which effectively handed Barcelona the title, and wasn't even in the squad for Madrid's last two games against Mallorca and Sevilla. Mbappe is here to stay, while it's hard to see a scenario where Vinicius Junior is allowed to move on this summer. Rodrygo could still fetch a tidy sum, though, while still allowing Arsenal to buy at a discount. The prospect of bringing in a player for below their market value might not be the only appealing factor for Arsenal. They have had plenty of success signing top talents from La Liga in the past, and manager Mikel Arteta may well be willing to try his luck. Asked about interest in the Brazil international on Thursday, the Arsenal boss made clear his desire to add to his attack. 'If you want to win major trophies, you have to be the best in the market, no? The teams that win always have the best players," said the Gunners boss. 'I wouldn't like to name a player, but there is pride because we have brought the club into a position that next season people are saying: 'You have to win a major trophy.' "And that means that everybody believes, and that we are an elite team in this country and in Europe. The biggest statement is that Arsenal is there. 'What is clear with the amount of injuries that we had in the front line is that we need a goal threat and we need firepower. Understanding that the context can change tomorrow, we cannot rely just on the numbers that we had before. We have to add goals, creativity, and we have to add numbers, and that will be in different positions.' Certainly, he will hope history can repeat itself. The obvious stand-out example comes in the form of Martin Odegaard, who was allowed to leave the Spanish capital and is now Arsenal's captain and one of their most important players. He isn't the only example, though. Back in 2013, the Gunners saw Madrid spend big on Isco and Gareth Bale and seized their opportunity. A deadline day move saw Mesut Ozil move to North London and he enjoyed several fruitful years there - even if things didn't end in the best way. Twelve months later, they raided Madrid's rivals Barcelona instead. The Catalan club had a busy summer of their own, with Luis Suarez among those to arrive, and that left Barca feeling they could cope without Alexis Sanchez. In Barcelona's defence, they were arguably correct on that matter as they went on to win the Champions League. Arsenal were able to benefit too, though, Three great seasons were followed by a sharp decline, but the highs were very high. It isn't the first time Rodrygo has been linked with a move to the Premier League. Liverpool were keen on the Brazil international before he left his home country for Spain, but at the time he was in no mood to leave boyhood club Santos. 'We didn't close the deal because I didn't want to. I wanted to stay at Santos even though the offer was very good," he said in 2024. "The pathway they promised me would also have been very good for my career. I was going to finish my studies in England to prepare for European football. "It had always been my dream to play in Europe. Everything was very good, but my desire spoke louder. I wanted to stay at Santos and make a bit of history at the club. And that's what happened: I was able to fulfil my dream of playing for Santos. But it's true, I almost went to Liverpool.' Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Arsenal are now Ahead of Chelsea in the Race to Sign £50m Forward
Arsenal's Ambitious Chase for Nico Williams Shows Arteta's Transfer Pull Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has reportedly taken matters into his own hands by holding direct talks with Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams. According to a report by CaughtOffside, Arteta presented his vision for Arsenal's future directly to the Spanish international, a bold move that appears to have significantly boosted the Gunners' standing in what could become one of the summer's fiercest transfer battles. Advertisement While Chelsea are also in the race, it is Arsenal's clarity of project and the personal involvement of Arteta that has seemingly tilted the odds in the north London club's favour. Sources indicate that 'Arteta's pitch to the player looks to have put the Gunners in a commanding position.' Photo IMAGO Big-Name Competition Looms from Spain However, any premature celebrations from Arsenal fans would be ill-advised. The allure of La Liga giants Real Madrid and Barcelona still casts a long shadow. Both clubs have admired Williams for some time, and should either decide to activate his £50m release clause, the race could become significantly more complicated. Advertisement That said, Williams may find the path to first-team football less obstructed in London. 'It's hard to imagine the Spain international would get as much of a key role at Barcelona right now due to the presence of Lamine Yamal, Raphinha and Dani Olmo,' the report notes. Real Madrid, too, have a stacked attack with Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and the imminent arrival of Kylian Mbappe. For a player who thrives in wide areas and wants to continue developing with regular starts, Arsenal — or potentially Chelsea — could offer the ideal blend of elite competition and personal progression. Why Williams Fits the Arsenal Profile At just 22, Nico Williams represents the perfect hybrid of current quality and untapped potential. His ability to beat defenders with pace, coupled with growing maturity in decision-making, has seen him rise to prominence in La Liga. With a release clause set at £50m, he isn't a bargain, but he could prove value for money in a Premier League market where attacking flair is at a premium. Advertisement Arsenal expert Charles Watts believes that Williams is indeed high on Arteta's wishlist. 'I still believe Nico Williams would be Arteta's first choice. But we all know by now that might be a difficult one to get over the line,' Watts commented in his exclusive column for CaughtOffside. This move would align with Arsenal's recent transfer strategies, where the club has focused on younger, high-ceiling talent capable of immediately challenging for a place in the starting XI. After missing out narrowly in the Premier League title race, injecting fresh dynamism on the flanks could be just what Arsenal need to finally go all the way. Photo: IMAGO Chelsea Need the Reinforcement — But Are They Second in Line? Chelsea's interest also makes perfect sense. Their forward line has been largely inconsistent, with players like Joao Felix, Pedro Neto, Jadon Sancho and Mykhailo Mudryk struggling to make a lasting impression. For a side eager to reboot under a new sporting direction, Williams would represent a genuine upgrade — and a real statement of intent. Advertisement However, it's unclear whether Chelsea's project carries the same weight right now, particularly with uncertainty around their managerial future and European qualification. In contrast, Arsenal can offer stability, Champions League football, and a manager who has shown faith in young talents like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and William Saliba. Our View – EPL Index Analysis From an Arsenal fan's perspective, this news is nothing short of electrifying. After two near-miss seasons under Arteta, bringing in a player of Nico Williams' calibre would be a major sign that the club is pushing hard to reach the next level. His profile fits perfectly with Arsenal's tactical setup. Imagine him on one wing and Saka on the other, with Odegaard pulling strings in midfield — it's a mouth-watering prospect. Williams' flair and pace could be the final piece in the attacking puzzle, especially in those tight matches where an extra moment of magic is needed to break down deep blocks. Advertisement Moreover, Arteta personally pitching his vision to the player shows how seriously the club is taking this pursuit. It's the kind of behind-the-scenes manoeuvring that gives fans confidence. If Williams is swayed by this approach, it not only strengthens our squad, it also signals to the rest of Europe that Arsenal are no longer just building — they're ready to dominate. Let's hope Edu and the rest of the recruitment team can now close the deal. With the Champions League on the horizon and the Premier League within reach, this is exactly the type of transfer that can take us to the top.
