Chelsea and Arsenal are set to go head-to-head in the race to sign Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams, according to The Athletic.
The 22-year-old winger was one of the protagonists of Spain’s triumph at the 2024 European Championship, scoring the opening goal in the 2-1 final victory over England.
Williams recorded two goals and an assist and created four big chances to help Spain claim their fourth Euros title, cementing their position as the most successful nation in the history of the tournament.
The Spanish winger was already a highly sought-after prospect before the Euro 2024 tournament after notching eight goals and 19 assists in 37 games across all competitions for Bilbao.
His exploits in Germany have further bolstered his reputation as one of the best young wingers in the world, and competition for his signature is poised to be fierce this summer.
Chelsea and Arsenal have already positioned themselves as front-runners in the race to land his signature, but they’ll face serious competition from Barcelona, who are also known admirers.
Chelsea have carried out the groundwork on Williams, having watched him at Bilbao last season, and the winger is reportedly high on their list of targets in one of their priority positions.
Arsenal are also looking to strengthen their wide positions ahead of another potential Premier League title challenge with Manchester City.
They have several players on their shortlist, including PSV Eindhoven’s Johan Bakayoko, but Williams is a primary target for the Gunners.
The player reportedly favours staying in La Liga, which doesn’t bode well for Chelsea and Arsenal. However, Barca’s precarious financial situation paves the way for either team to steal a march on the competition.
Williams has a £49 million release clause in his contract, and Bilbao will require interested clubs to make the payment upfront, which could be a problem for Barca.
Arsenal will have to sell players to fund a move for Williams, while the player’s wage demand is reportedly a concern for Chelsea.
Stats from Sofascore.com
