Arsenal identify Nico Williams transfer alternative as Mikel Arteta secret weapon emerges

Arsenal look to have started considering transfer alternatives to Nico Williams ahead of the summer window. The Gunners have a number of issues to solve ahead of the 2025/26 season, with some big decisions needed in midfield and attack.

Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad looks set to be the club's first summer arrival with Jorginho and Thomas Partey both seeing their contracts expire. Rosenberg wonderkid Sverre Nypan is another midfielder of interest.

Further forward, Williams is just one of numerous options that have been linked to the Gunners, with Bryan Mbuemo, Leroy Sane, Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak being monitored.

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has since provided a detailed update on Arsenal's interest in Leao. “Arsenal’s scouting team were already hard at work before Andrea Berta’s arrival – he has not overturned the department or thinking but has just added his depth and knowledge," he told

“He believes the club need a new player for the left and we know he has already held talks over Nico Williams, but they are doing their work on other options.

“Rafa Leao is someone who is on the radar of a number of clubs, including rivals Chelsea. The feeling in football circles is that he could leave, Like with Williams and Luis Diaz, his dream move is Barcelona – but that is true of many players.

“Leao is an interesting player, and one who Arsenal are aware of, and have done work on him.” Declan Rice knows the 25-year-old quite well with the duo captured training together ahead of the 2023/24 season.

It was just the latter that did arrive in that specific trading period, but the hope will be that Leao could join ahead of the 2025/26 campaign, if that is the route Arsenal go down, with Arteta and Berta using Rice as their secret weapon to sign him.