Arsenal remain keen to sign Athletic Club winger Nico Williams but will have to fend off competition for the Spaniard's signature from Bayern Munich, a report in Germany has revealed.
Williams' future was a hot topic last summer when his heroics at Euro 2024 seemed destined to be followed by a blockbuster transfer. His release clause, rumoured to be anywhere between �50m and �60m, saw a whole host of clubs line up for his signature.
Arsenal, Chelsea and Barcelona all chased a transfer before Williams publicly confirmed his desire to remain with Athletic, although he did not renew his contract and will enter the final two years of his deal this summer.
BILD state Arsenal are still interested in Williams and are in talks with the winger's representatives, but Bayern have now joined the fight to get a deal done.
Bayern are keen to reinvigorate out wide this summer. Leroy Sane's contract is expiring - Arsenal are also interested in the German - while Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman are both expected to be made available for transfer.
With a big-money move for Bayer Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz appearing unlikely at this point, Bayern are looking elsewhere and have added Williams' name to their list of summer targets.
The current value of Williams' release clause is unclear, with this latest report estimating anywhere between 60m-80m (�50.5m-�67.3m).
Whatever the exact figure, the buy-out clause is still widely accepted to represent excellent value for money and the line of suitors is only expected to grow between now and the summer transfer window, although many clubs may be reluctant to enter into a long-running saga considering his reluctance to leave last summer.
"At that moment last summer I made the decision that I considered to be correct and I'm very happy with it," Williams recently told L'Equipe. "It was for my family. The relationship we have with this club is incredible and I don't think I'll find this atmosphere anywhere else."
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