Arsenal's £42m target has sent Mikel Arteta very clear message as transfer timeline set

Arsenal have been told to wait until the end of Euro 2024 before they attempt to prise Nico Williams away from Athletic Bilbao. The Gunners are searching for reinforcements after narrowly missing out on landing their first Premier League title in two decades.

Arsenal led the way in the top-flight going into the final few weeks of last season but were leapfrogged by eventual champions Manchester City in the final week.

And Gunners boss Mikel Arteta will be searching for the final parts of the jigsaw this summer as he looks to topple the Citizens once and for all next season.

According to football.london, Arteta and his transfer chief Edu are keen to get their hands on Williams, who has a £42million release clause in his contract in Bilbao.

But the winger, who is part of Spain’s Euro 2024 squad, isn’t prepared to think about his club future while he is on international duty. .

“I have [been] quite clear where I want to play next season,” Williams told El Partidazo de COPE on Wednesday. “Athletic is my home. I am very happy. I have told my manager that I don’t want to know anything until the Euro cup is over.”

Williams has been a regular in the Athletic Bilbao team for three seasons and enjoyed a fine campaign last time around as he bagged eight goals and 17 assists in all competitions. And his performances have reportedly piqued the interest of the likes of Barcelona and Tottenham.

The 21-year-old, who grabbed an assist in Spain’s final Euro 2024 warm-up game against Northern Ireland last weekend, is set for his second major international tournament after featuring at the Qatar World Cup in 2022.

And his suitors will be desperate to make their move when the competition comes to an end next month.

Arsenal have been linked with a whole host of players in recent weeks, including RB Leipzig forward Benjamin Sesko, Sporting striker Viktor Gyokeres and Bologna attacker Joshua Zirkzee.

And when asked recently whether the north Londoners intended to get their transfer business taken care of at the start of the summer transfer window, Arteta replied: “That’s the ideal scenario. Every club wants that, we want that as coaches and for the players especially.

“Then for the team and for the environment. When you do that, something clicks there and it’s really important because it starts to give you momentum.”