Arsenal are interested in signing Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams and club president Jon Uriarte has now spoken out about the Spanish international’s future
Athletic Bilbao have offered an update on the future of Arsenal target Nico Williams, with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta a huge fan of the winger. Arsenal have long been linked with Williams, who memorably shone for Spain as they won Euro 2024 last summer.
However, it seems as though Bilbao are confident that the 22-year-old will not be leaving the club. «I believe we have a winning and interesting project for everyone, and Nico is part of that project, just like many other players,» Bilbao president Jon Uriarte told Spanish outlet El Correo.
«The project becomes easier if we keep our players – and I believe Nico and the rest of the squad have a very exciting year ahead.» Uriarte’s comments come after it emerged that Bilbao are attempting to persuade Williams to sign a new deal.
The winger is currently under contract until 2027 and his deal is said to include a release clause worth around £50million. However, Williams’ wage demands are understood to be a stumbling block.
Mirror Football understands that Williams would want to be paid more than £300,000-a-week to make him one of the bigger earners in Europe. Barcelona have also been heavily linked with Williams, but their financial restrictions have made the move unlikely.
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Barcelona have also seen an approach for Liverpool’s Luis Diaz rebuffed, with the club unwilling to sell the player unless they receive a bumper offer. Diaz has also i ndicated that he wants to stay at Anfield.
«I feel I’m going through a really good period,» Diaz told club media. «I’m really happy to be here, to be part of this great institution, this great club and to have great team-mates around me. From the moment I arrived, I felt great pride.
«I always tried to work hard for this, and to see that nowadays things are working out for me fills me with pride and I’m really happy because that’s what I work for. [But] we are nobodies without our team-mates.
«We are a team. The forwards and wingers always try to help with goals and assists, and right now I’ve achieved good numbers to back that up. It’s about playing and then playing well, supporting the team in the way I play and enjoying it, like always.»
Diaz is out of contract in 2026, but the winger expects talks over an extension to begin imminently. «We will be talking, the talk about it (his future) will happen,» he said recently.
«For me, I’d stay for as long as possible. It also depends on the club, it all depends on the details. They’re all details that are sorted out separately. But I am very calm, very happy and I am enjoying the Premier League.»
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
