Arsenal want ‘incredible’ £43m forward
By – Thiruselvam
Arsenal have been linked with a host of attacking players ahead of another crucial summer for the Gunners.
Like most other Premier League clubs, Arsenal didn’t do much business in the January transfer window due to FFP constraints.
The likelihood is that the Gunners – and many other clubs – will be busy in the summer window as they look to strengthen further.
Arsenal have enjoyed a great season so far and remain firmly in contention for the Premier League title, but they’re not quite the finished product.
For instance, Mikel Arteta could do with bringing in world-class cover and competition for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the wings.
One player said to be on the Arsenal radar has now made a ‘top talent’ list, putting him alongside the likes of Alejandro Garnacho, Kobbie Mainoo and Harvey Elliott.
The player in question is Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams, one of the most highly rated young forwards in world football.
Nico Williams is also understood to be high up on their list of potential targets,” Arsenal journalist Charles Watts recently wrote on CaughtOffside.
“I see players like those two (Williams and Pedro Neto) well ahead of (Donyell) Malen in the pecking order when it comes to the summer.”
Where is Arsenal target Nico Williams in the list of the world’s best young players?
Just to show how highly rated Williams is at present, ESPN recently ranked him high up in their list of the top 39 youngsters in world football.
The reported Arsenal target was 16th in the ranking, ahead of the likes of Kobbie Mainoo, Evan Ferguson and Harvey Elliott.
‘Usually fielded as a left winger, but with licence to roam inside, Williams predominantly stands out for his exhilarating burst of pace, persistent dribbling and uncompromising directness,’ they wrote.
‘Excellent with the ball at his feet, he is hard to knock off it and takes on defenders at an average of 10.3 times per 90 minutes.
‘And, despite not hugging the touchlines, he is also an effective crosser of the ball (4.4 per 90 minutes, with a noteworthy 40% accuracy).’
ESPN claimed that Williams’ estimated transfer value is €50million, or around £43million. That has previously been reported as his release clause.
At just 21 years of age, Williams has already made over 100 Athletic appearances, plus 13 Spain caps.
The La Roja talent has been labelled an “incredible” athlete, and there has been a suggestion that he is even faster than Kylian Mbappe.
Let’s see what happens in the summer. Arsenal will certainly fancy their chances of landing Williams, but there will probably be stiff competition from other elite suitors.
Source – TBRFootball
