Arsenal transfer for No.1 target lies in tatters with star 'to take pay cut'

Arsenal's transfer business hasn't got off to the smoothest of starts in the summer window, and there's likely another blow coming their way with a £53million target's preference clear

Another Arsenal transfer target looks to be slipping from their grasp with Nico Williams reportedly ready to take a pay cut to facilitate a move to Barcelona. The Gunners have long been linked with the Spain winger.

Williams, 22, opted to spend another season with Athletic Bilbao following a standout performance at Euro 2024, including a goal in the final against England. After helping his side secure Champions League football for next season, the speculation about who could activate his €62million (£53m) release clause has ramped up once again.

Improving Mikel Arteta's attack is clearly a priority for the Gunners in the market. Their struggles in front of goal amid various injury issues contributed to the lack of fight they put up in the title race with champions Liverpool.

But it appears they will have to cross Williams' name off of their list of potential signings. According to SPORT, he favours a move to Bilbao's La Liga rivals Barcelona, even if it means taking a hit on his wages.

It comes after Portuguese outlet Record claimed Arsenal have halted their pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres, who had reportedly chosen them over Manchester United. Gyokeres' price tag has proved a sticking point, with Sporting CP seemingly holding out for his £85m release clause.

As such, an offer from north London totalling £60m was knocked back. So it's very much back to the drawing board for the Emirates chiefs, who have been somewhat slower out of the blocks than their Premier League counterparts.

The transfer window re-opened this week after a brief closure for the start of the Club World Cup, and while Man City, Chelsea, United, Tottenham and Liverpool have all got a deal done so far this summer, Arsenal are still yet to make a signing.

It's widely expected that Martin Zubimendi will become the first, with a total fee of around £55m anticipated for the Real Sociedad midfielder. He'll fill the slot vacated by Jorginho following his exit as a free agent.

Attention will then need to turn to the forward line and alternatives to Williams and Gyokeres. The striker options appear clearer as Ollie Watkins and Benjamin Sesko are names that have been heavily linked with the Gunners in the past.

A swoop for Watkins in the January transfer window was unsuccessful and Aston Villa ended up selling Jhon Duran to the Saudi Pro League's Al-Nassr instead. Prising him away from Villa Park, where his contract runs until 2028, could therefore prove tricky.

Sesko, meanwhile, could be just as costly as Gyokeres. Some reports put RB Leipzig's price tag as high as £92.5m, although there is the added bonus that he's five years younger at 22 and is Arteta's first choice.

As for wide targets, free agent Leroy Sane has already fallen by the wayside after he opted to join Galatasaray. The likes of AC Milan's Rafael Leao and Borussia Dortmund's Jamie Gittens have been fleetingly named in connection, but it seems there's a lot of work to be done on that front.