Mikel Arteta ‘would like to sign’ £48m game-changer for Arsenal but has a problem

would like to bring Nico Williams to in the January transfer window, per reports, but a deal appears very difficult to do midway through the season. The winger is one of the most exciting players in his position in the world.

And are open to reinforcements this month in light of the news talismanic forward could be sidelined until April after having hamstring surgery. His stand-in, teenager Ethan Nwaneri, has also gone down with a muscle injury.

say , and are among Athletic Bilbao attacker Williams’ admirers. The Reds apparently considered a deal last summer.

And Arteta would like to v b the Spain international to the Emirates before February if it was possible. Yet there are said to be two hurdles were the Gunners to firm up their interest with a formal approach.

Williams has a release clause in his contract of £48million (€58m) but already earns £165,000 (€200k) in the de facto capital of the Basque Country.

He would want a sizeable salary to move to the so would expect a significant increase in his weekly pay.

That means the finances involved in any deal would be significant, especially given would be required to exercise his buyout clause in full rather than being able to pay it in instalments.

The 22-year-old is also not agitating for a move away from the club, who are fourth in La Liga and only seven points off leaders Real Madrid. They face Barcelona in a Spanish Super Cup semi-final in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia tomorrow (Wednesday 7pm).

Williams has two goals and five assists in 17 appearances this season after producing eight goals and 19 assists in 37 outings last term. He is seen as a player with gigantic potential.

But a summer deal is thought to be likelier even though Arteta is a huge admirer and adding the game-changing threat of Williams would massively help ’s chances of catching in the title race this term.

It is said owner intervention might be required for the north London outfit to make a move feasible this month. Instead, could pursue a less financially daunting swoop this month to bolster their forward line.

Barcelona’s Dani Olmo is a player being watched by many clubs though the Spaniard – despite an unusual situation – is intent on remaining at the Nou Camp. Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee-Kang In is said to be another player on the watchlist.

Arteat confirmed on Monday: “The focus is our players. Whatever is in the market, we’re very alert.

“But the priority is working with the players that we have at the moment. We set very high standards and we really want to only have players here that are coming from our academy.

“Or we have to sign players to really elevate and impact the team, otherwise just bringing in bodies doesn’t help us.”