Arsenal ready to pay £48m to trigger release clause of long term La Liga target

Arsenal set to  pay the €58 million (£48m) fee required to make the move happen immediately

Arsenal are back in for long-term target Nico Williams 

The Gunners are set to match the Athletic Bilbao attacker's release clause to land a huge statement signing this January.

Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams, 22, is a target for Arsenal and the Premier League club are happy to trigger the Spain international's £48m release clause

Arsenal are set to pay the €58 million (£48m) fee required to make the move happen immediately.

Williams is a long-term target for the Gunners, who wanted to sign him in the summer after his heroics helped Spain to Euro 2024 glory.

However, Arsenal are in talks with the agent of Williams and are prepared to match the release clause to sign him from Athletic Club during the January transfer window which is now open. 

Despite excellent form since the November international break, Mikel Arteta has conceded that his squad is one of the thinnest in the Premier League.

Bukayo Saka's untimely injury during the 5-1 victory at Crystal Palace only leaves Arsenal with Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling in the wide areas.

With Saka out for at least two long months during a crucial run of fixtures that coujld define the Gunners season across all four competitons - Williams could act as top quality cover for the injured 23-year-old former Hale End academy graduate - even if the Bilbao star prefers to play on the left-hand side.

Arsenal are in pole position to land the talented Williams after long-term admirers Barcelona face big problems in arranging financing, amid battles with La Liga's strict funding rules.

With the Nou Camp outfit already contending with issues relating to re-registering Dani Olmo, Arteta has the perfect opportunity to swoop to land an exciting talent for a fair price in a bid to bolster his squad at the perfect moment. 

While talented 16-year-old Lamine Yamal took the headlines during Euro 2024 - including an excellent performance against England during the final in Berlin last summer - it was Williams who scored the opening goal of the game against Gareth Southgate's side, to win player of the match as Luis de la Fuentes imperious side lifted the trophy.

Arteta will be hoping Williams will be able to add to his haul of silverware with Arsenal.