- 22 hours ago
Arteta faces Arsenal revolt over priority signing as Chelsea go ‘ALL-IN’ on hijack
Robin Bairner
- 24 Jun 2024 06:34 BST
- 4 min read
Mikel Arteta faces a rebellion within Arsenal’s ranks if he completes the signing of Nico Williams from Athletic Club, yet he may be saved by the fact that Chelsea have made the Spain Euro 2024 star their priority signing this summer.
Nico Williams has been in eye-catching form for much of the season, hitting double figures in terms of assists in LaLiga, while he has looked sharp for La Roja at the European Championship. His stunning display against Italy in a 1-0 win was a particular highlight.
Numerous clubs are now following the fortunes of the 21-year-old.
READ MORE: Premier League summer transfers 2024: All the Done Deals
STATS
Nico Williams
M (R), AM (RL)
Athletic
Nico Williams
M (R), AM (RL)
Athletic
Barcelona may be the player’s preference, but with the Catalan side financially weak, there appears no prospect of them paying his release clause, which stands at a reported €55 million.
Arsenal, on the other hand, are ready to match that figure to sign Nico Williams, but Arteta faces a potential revolt from within over the deal, according to The Express.
It is claimed that Williams’ wage would be the biggest at the club if he were to move to the Emirates, with only Kai Havertz commanding a greater salary.
“If Arsenal's wage structure is tinkered with too much, it could spark a chain reaction that spirals out of control,” it states.
READ MORE: What Premier League fans can expect from Nico Williams
Chelsea pose Williams threat
Chelsea are also chasing Nico Williams, meanwhile, with Di Marzio reporting on Sunday that the Stamford Bridge club are ready to go “all-in” on a move for the winger.
The Italian source claims that the Blues are ready to match the release clause to sign the player and indicate that wages will not be a problem.
Chelsea are being cautious over salaries, though. They reportedly dropped interest in Crystal Palace’s Michael Olise to allow him to sign for Bayern Munich, due to his wage demands.
Enzo Maresca’s side are seeking to cut down their wage bill, so it would be surprising if there was not some hesitation on paying Nico Williams around €300,000 per week, which is what the Express’ report claims he would earn.
