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Arsenal remain in the transfer race to sign Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao alongside Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. The Catalan giants have prioritised agreeing a deal for Williams, having publicly declared they have the financial capabilities to afford his £49million (€58m) release clause.

"Economically speaking, we could commit to the signing of Nico Williams," Barcelona club president Joan Laporta told Catalunya Radio earlier this month. "We are working with Flick on possible signings. Now we have to leave Deco to close the operations we are working on.

"Shortly we will be able to announce some good news with regard to the financial and we will be back within LaLiga's Fair Play limits. And that will allow further good news in terms of ."

He added recently: "Our financial situation has improved a lot. We’re close to normality. Today, Barca can sign big names as we did our job. We will clarify our financial situation soon.”

Despite Barcelona being in pole position to acquire his signature, Arsenal are just one of many clubs to have been linked to Williams with PSG now formally pushing for the Spain international following his breakout performances at Euro 2024.

The French club are currently attempting to find an agreement with the player, though competition from Barcelona is making that difficult, as per RMC journalist Fabrice Hawkins. With PSG now actively pursuing Williams, Arsenal may have to make their move quickly with it seeming unlikely he remains in the Basque Country for the 2024/25 season.

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However, as per transfer news aggregator TNATS via Patreon (subscription required), Arsenal believe it will be difficult for the Spanish club to afford the transfer of Williams and are thus waiting patiently. Considering the 22-year-old is Mikel Arteta's favoured target, Arsenal attempting a late hijack is certainly not out of the equation especially now a deal for Riccardo Calafiori is wrapped up.

Signing his fellow Spaniard Mikel Merino is also a possibility with the 28-year-old just one midfield target to have been identified by the north Londoners.