Nico Williams Sparks a Duel Between Arsenal and Chelsea and Complicates Things for Barça

The future of Nico Williams remains one of the most 'hot' topics in the transfer market. After starring in a real 'soap opera' last summer, where he 'turned down' an offer from FC Barcelona to stay at Athletic Club, the winger is once again in the 'eye of the storm' as both Chelsea and Arsenal aim to secure his services as soon as possible.

According to 'The Athletic', the London clubs are willing to pay a significant amount of money to secure his signing. Mikel Arteta would like to bring him in this January, but his release clause of 60 million euros, combined with the salary the player would earn and his desire to finish the season in Bilbao, makes the operation unfeasible.

Chelsea, Another Strong Contender

On the other hand, at Stamford Bridge, they are willing to wait until summer, and when the time comes, they will go all out for his signing. The 'blues' seem to be rising under Enzo Maresca and could return to the Champions League next season, so the Italian coach would like to have a top-tier reinforcement, and Nico is his top favorite.

This situation would leave Barça in 'check', as they have not ruled out the possible arrival of the forward in the summer window. The culés want to strengthen the left wing with an eye on next season and the younger Williams is still an option, but if the player ultimately opts for the Premier, alternatives like Rafael Leao or Luis Díaz will gain traction in the Catalan capital, although everything will be defined in the coming months.