REPORTS: Arsenal have opened talks to sign a ‘frightening’ winger and are prepared to table a £53 million offer along with a hefty wage package. Andrea Berta is lining up a £53m bid to secure the services of an “electric” wide man for the Gunners — a player seen as their potential equivalent of Florian Wirtz.
Arsenal has reportedly opened talks to sign an exciting winger this summer, with the club prepared to offer £53 million alongside a hefty salary package.
This move comes as part of a broader, more calculated transfer strategy under the guidance of Andrea Berta, who assumed control of Arsenal’s recruitment operations from Edu a few months ago.
Rather than concentrating efforts on a single transfer, Berta is pursuing multiple signings, including RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyökeres, both of whom have caught the club’s attention in recent weeks. Notably, Gyökeres is said to be eager for a move to the Emirates this summer.
However, Arsenal’s recruitment drive isn’t limited to strengthening their central attacking options. The club is actively seeking a winger to bolster their wide areas, which have lacked consistency, particularly on the left flank.
Among the top targets is Real Madrid’s Rodrygo, with discussions already taking place. Should that pursuit falter, Arsenal may once again turn to Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams, a player they considered last summer following his standout performance in the Euro 2024 final, where he scored for Spain.
Although Williams initially leaned towards staying in Spain — with Barcelona expressing significant interest — both Arsenal and Bayern Munich are reportedly ready to activate his £53 million release clause and present him with a highly lucrative salary offer. The Gunners view Williams as a potentially transformative addition, capable of providing the kind of dynamism on the wing that they’ve been missing.
In a summer where Liverpool has made headlines by securing Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a record-breaking deal, Arsenal appears determined to find their own game-changing signing. While Wirtz, known for his versatility as both a central playmaker and wide player, would have been an ideal acquisition, Arsenal believes Williams, at the same age of 22, could fill a similar void in their squad.
Statistically, Williams brings more consistent dribbling and a higher frequency of shot-creating actions than Arsenal’s current left-wing options, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, who both struggled with consistency last season.
Williams’ performances for Spain at Euro 2024 and the Nations League — scoring four goals and providing two assists — showcased his ability at the highest level. Arsenal fans believe that under Mikel Arteta’s mentorship, Williams could unlock even greater potential and become a crucial figure in the Gunners’ attacking setup.
Arsenal is actively **working on signing a top-class winger this summer**, with two main candidates in the frame: **Real Madrid’s Rodrygo** and **Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams**. Here’s a closer look at both pursuits:
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## ⚽ Rodrygo (24, Real Madrid)
* Arsenal have launched **initial discussions** with Rodrygo’s representatives and placed him on their shortlist of wing/forward options ([talksport.com][1]).
* Real Madrid value him at around **€90–100 million (£77–85m)**.
* The sticking points are:
* A high **wage demand** (\~€10 million net/year, around £300k/week gross), which Arsenal are hesitant to meet ([teamtalk.com][2]).
* Real Madrid are still wanting to keep him, and Florentino Pérez has publicly rebuffed approaches below €70–90m .
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## 🌟 Nico Williams (22, Athletic Bilbao)
* Arsenal, under new sporting director **Andrea Berta**, have targeted Williams for some time — he’s now a priority winger target ([footballtransfers.com][3]).
* His release clause is approximately **€55–60 million (£49–53m)** ([teamtalk.com][4]).
* Challenges include:
* **Very high wage demands**—he reportedly wants to be Arsenal’s top earner (around £280k–300k/week), which may stall progress .
* Arsenal may be reconsidering if the financial demands outweigh other options ([eplindex.com][5]).
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## 🔄 Arsenal’s Strategy Under Andrea Berta
* Berta is executing a **multi-pronged recruitment plan**, pursuing several first-team signings simultaneously, including **Martin Zubimendi, Viktor Gyökeres, Benjamin Sesko,** and a top-level winger ([thetimes.co.uk][6]).
* The objective is to **combine prudence with quality**, ensuring they don’t rely on a single marquee deal .
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## 📊 Comparison Table
| Aspect | Rodrygo | Nico Williams |
| —————— | ————————————- | ———————————————— |
| **Estimated Fee** | €90–100m (£77–85m) | €55–60m (£49–53m) |
| **Wage Demand** | \~€10m net/year (≈£300k/week gross) | Wants to be club’s top earner (\~£280–300k/week) |
| **Arsenal Status** | Talks initiated, on shortlist | Priority target, active contact ongoing |
| **Obstacles** | Salary & Real’s unwillingness to sell | High wages, potentially price out |
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## 👍 Verdict
1. **Williams is closer to Arsenal’s financial model**, but his wage expectations may push the club toward alternatives.
2. **Rodrygo is attractive for his pedigree and versatility**, yet difficult to meet salary demands and Real Madrid’s valuation.
3. Arsenal remain determined to improve the left flank while pushing ahead with other goals (striker, midfield) this summer ([football365.com][7], [footballtransfers.com][3], [teamtalk.com][2], [teamtalk.com][8], [thesun.co.uk][9], [as.com][10]).
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Would you like insights into **Giovana Sesko vs Gyökeres as striker targets**, or do you want to dive deeper into Arsenal’s broader summer transfer strategy under Berta?
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* [as.com](https://as.com/futbol/primera/el-arsenal-va-a-por-rodrygo-n/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [talksport.com](https://talksport.com/football/3298222/real-madrid-rodrygo-transfer-arsenal/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
* [thetimes.co.uk](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/arsenal-transfer-window-zubimendi-sesko-gyokeres-kepa-cmnjpl0lw?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
[2]: https://www.teamtalk.com/arsenal/arsenal-get-serious-e80m-striker-deal-on-rodrygo-real-madrid-transfer-torched-by-issue?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Arsenal get ‘serious’ for €80m striker with ‘deal ON’, but Rodrygo transfer torched by ‘issue'”
[3]: https://www.footballtransfers.com/en/transfer-news/uk-premier-league/2025/03/exlcusive-arsenal-transfer-news-nico-williams-andrea-berta-mikel-arteta-steve-kay?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Exclusive Arsenal Transfer News: Nico Williams made Andrea Berta’s top priority after Mikel Arteta demand | FootballTransfers.com”
[4]: https://www.teamtalk.com/arsenal/sources-arsenal-interest-in-nico-williams-confirmed-as-andrea-berta-eyes-15-goal-prem-star?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Arsenal transfers: Interest in Nico Williams confirmed as Andrea Berta eyes 15-goal Prem star”
[5]: https://eplindex.com/128456/arsenal-transfer-plans-revealed-as-club-targets-attacking-reinforcements.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Arsenal transfer plans revealed as club targets attacking reinforcements”
[6]: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/arsenal-transfer-window-zubimendi-sesko-gyokeres-kepa-cmnjpl0lw?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Why haven’t Arsenal signed anyone yet – and should fans be worried?”
[7]: https://www.football365.com/news/arsenal-new-offer-real-madrid-rodrygo-rejected-perez-stance-clear?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Real Madrid reject ‘new offer’ from Arsenal for Brazilian star as Perez makes stance ‘clear’ – Football365”
[8]: https://www.teamtalk.com/arsenal/record-demands-destroy-gunners-nico-williams-transfer-dream-berta-focuses-105m-double-target?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Arsenal transfers: Record demands DESTROY Nico Williams dream as Berta focuses on £105m duo”
[9]: https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/35382625/arsenal-transfer-news-live-laporte-vlahovic-rodrygo-gyokeres/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “Arsenal transfer news LIVE: Gunners make ‘SHOCK’ move for Saudi defender, Juventus striker targeted, Rodrygo blow”
[10]: https://as.com/futbol/primera/el-arsenal-va-a-por-rodrygo-n/?utm_source=chatgpt.com “El Arsenal va a por Rodrygo”
