Why Nico Williams transfer could save Arsenal's summer

It's still unclear who Arsenal's marquee left winger signing will be this summer, although Andrea Berta could end up being presented with an obvious route to go down on this front.

The Italian sporting director's priority this summer is rebuilding the left-hand side of the attack. While moves for Bruno Guimaraes and a centre-back to cover for William Saliba are other pointers on the agenda, ensuring Mikel Arteta has better choices to roll out on the left wing is what is going to elevate the Gunners next season.

Part one of the rebuild is done. Leandro Trossard has made way for £34 million signing Christos Tzolis, in what is something of a like-for-like swap. While different in some aspects, Tzolis will replace a lot of the qualities Trossard brought to the table, but is seven years younger than the Belgian.

Finding that ceiling-raising left forward is the next step. While the likes of Bradley Barcola and the now Stamford Bridge-bound Morgan Rogers have been regularly cited as the primary targets, Berta may be forced to look a little further down his list, particularly if he wants to bring Julian Alvarez to the Emirates as well.

Bradley Barcola could be too expensive for Arsenal

Reports indicate that Alvarez could be added on top of the left-wing acquisitions, but this surely won't be possible from a budgetary standpoint if Arsenal fork out in excess of £100 million for Bradley Barcola.

After missing out on Rogers, Barcola is the most fancied left-wing option on the Gunners' shortlist. He's performed at a high level for the reigning European champions for multiple years now, is likely available and would provide the pace Arteta's side will miss if Gabriel Martinelli departs.

However, astronomical deals for Rogers and Elliot Anderson have inflated the market. A typical £80 million player is now going for £120 million, and Paris Saint-Germain are reportedly using these aforementioned moves as a framework for their fee demands for Barcola.

If the Parisians hold out for £120 million on Barcola, Arsenal will surely walk away. Not only would it prevent them also pulling off a deal for Alvarez, but it simply wouldn't be justifiable based on the 23-year-old's production. While certainly an excellent player, there are question marks around how his transition-heavy style translates to the mid-block Premier League era. You can stomach these doubts at £80 million, but at £120 million, it's too much of a gamble.

Elsewhere, Yan Diomande would be a viable alternative, but the Ivorian is said to be set on PSG, and this deal materialising is essentially what is expected to liberate Barcola for a move anyway.

Juventus' Kenan Yildiz is an interesting option, although talk of a departure from Turin for the Turk is minimal at this stage.

Few other concrete links to left-wingers are out there.

Nico Williams could be the man for Arsenal

While top wingers on the continent are commanding ridiculous fees, Nico Williams could be available at a comparatively modest price. All La Liga players are essentially obliged to have a release clause in their contract, and while most clubs price these clauses at ridiculous levels to avoid losing their best players for minimal fees, Athletic Club seemingly haven't done that with their star man.

Arsenal have supposedly reignited their interest in Williams, and it's no surprise based on what his purported release clause is. According to various reports, the ten-year deal the 24-year-old signed last summer includes a €90 million (£77 million) release clause.

At £77 million, Williams becomes an extremely attractive option when you consider the prices other players are going for in this market. Had this release clause not been in place, Athletic Club could reasonably have charged £100 million for the Basque wide forward, based on the prices we're seeing elsewhere.

If Arsenal opt to activate this clause, it may preserve funds for an Alvarez move, while they'd also be getting an excellent player for relatively good value.

While Williams' surface-level numbers from last season look somewhat underwhelming, largely because of injury, his underlying numbers have stayed at similar levels. He's still a ridiculously prolific dribbler, an extremely creative passer and a goal threat. He's certainly a rough diamond that could still do with refining, but Arsenal could do a lot worse.

Ultimately, if it's Alvarez and Williams for around £200 million, or just Barcola for £120 million, then the play is to make Williams your primary left winger target.

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