Bayern Munich are proving extremely cautious over giving anything away regarding their pursuit of Nico Williams, with the winger also on Arsenal and Barcelona’s radar.
The Bundesliga champions have, seemingly, entered the picture for Athletic Bilbao’s 22-year-old superstar – having missed out on Florian Wirtz – who’s set to sign for Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £116m.
So that could end up inadvertently impacting Mikel Arteta’s desires over a player Arsenal, as football.london understands, have held in high regard since long before he made impactful performances for Spain en route to their Euro 2024 triumph last summer.
Max Eberl, Bayern’s sporting director, was questioned about interest in Williams. He responded: “I don’t know anything about it.”
That was said to reporters in the wake of the club’s 10-0 win in their FIFA Club World Cup opener against New Zealand’s Auckland City – though it would appear such a result isn’t going to change Bayern’s stance on buying attackers this summer.
“It’s a fact that we’ll have two less attackers [Leroy Sane and Thomas Muller]. Our clear objective is to strengthen there and bring quality,” fellow Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund had stated beforehand.
Arsenal’s top priority is going to be the purchase of a striker this summer, though there is lingering desire to also strengthen further in other positions along their front-line.
So long as Williams remains at boyhood club Athletic Club, without signing a new contract beyond a current one that ends in 2027 and crucially holds a £53m release clause, his name will be talked about.
That will be the case in Bavaria and, once again in Barcelona, as well. The La Liga champions could be causing the greatest threat at present.
According to Spanish media, the winger’s agent met with La Blaugrana’s sporting director Deco last week as they discussed the possible revival of the club’s interest from last summer.
This is reported to be Williams’ preference at this stage, and there he would be able to link up more regularly with national teammate Lamine Yamal, who has already teased the move on social media.
But as a sign of hope for the Gunners, Cadena SER argue Barca still have their reservations as the, player did reject them one year ago, so still place Liverpool’s Luis Diaz in slightly higher regard.
What may become a driving factor in the saga is Barcelona’s ability to fund the deal too, with Diaz seen as a more economical option compared to the Spain international.
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