In the fierce competition in the winter transfer market, The Athletic's senior reporter Ornstein disclosed that England's Arsenal and Chelsea are secretly competing for Athletic Bilbao's young winger Nico Williams, who is a member of Spanish powerhouse Athletic Bilbao. The star has attracted the attention of many of Europe's top clubs due to his outstanding talent, and Arsenal and Chelsea are undoubtedly the two most promising to take him under their wings.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has reportedly been salivating over Nico Williams for a long time and plans to bring him in when the transfer window opens. However, the high transfer fee and the player's salary make this plan quite challenging. The release fee for Niko Williams is nearly 60 million euros and has to be paid in a lump sum, which is undoubtedly a big test for Arsenal's financial situation.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have joined the fray and despite the financial difficulties they too face, the club's deep pockets and desire for top players make them strong contenders for Nico Williams.
It's worth noting that Liverpool were also interested in Nico Williams last season, but ultimately failed to get their way. Now, with Arsenal and Chelsea on board, the road to a Nico Williams transfer has become increasingly bumpy.
For Nico Williams himself, he doesn't seem to be in a hurry to leave Athletic Bilbao. The young talent has been performing well in the team and has become an integral part of the squad. As such, he is likely to carefully consider his future and make a decision at the perfect time.
