New Arsenal transfer chief Andrea Berta holds meeting with Nico Williams over summer move as Gunners weigh up activating Athletic Club winger's €60m release clause

Williams could be on his way to England when the transfer window opens, with Arsenal in pole position to sign the Athletic Club sensation. According to a report from FootMercato (h/t Football Espana), newly-appointed Arsenal sporting director Berta recently held a meeting with Williams' camp over a potential summer move. The Gunners are ready to trigger the €60 million (£50m) release clause currently in Williams' contract.

Last summer, Williams was heavily linked with a move to Barcelona after he was among the standout performers for Spain in their victorious Euro 2024 campaign. However, the winger stayed put at the San Mames, leading the Catalans to sign his national team-mate Dani Olmo instead.

In recent months, Arsenal, along with Chelsea and Bayern Munich, have been tipped to lure Williams away from Bilbao, with the Gunners leading the race. In fact, a report two weeks ago revealed that Mikel Arteta's side were the frontrunners to sign Williams and were ready to offer him a weekly package worth £200,000 on a five-year deal. The news of sporting director Berta meeting with Williams' entourage only adds weight to the speculation.

Although Barcelona couldn't secure a move for the 22-year-old last summer, they remain keen on signing him at the end of this season. However, both Barca and Chelsea must proceed cautiously — Barca struggled with squad registration issues recently, while Chelsea must navigate Financial Fair Play after a £1bn spending spree under Todd Boehly.

After securing a hard-earned 2-1 win over Fulham in midweek, Arteta & Co. will face Everton on Saturday as they aim to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool, who are currently nine points clear at the top with a game in hand.