Arsenal revive Nico Williams chase, contract offer rejected
Arsenal revive Nico Williams chase, contract offer rejected

Arsenal are spinning plenty of plates as they get set for the transfer window to swing open next week. There is plenty of discussion surrounding Arsenal’s transfer activity ahead of the summer window officially opening next Monday. Manager Mikel Arteta made it clear after last month’s Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain that the club will need to be proactive in the coming months.

Everything co-chairman Josh Kroenke and external reports have said suggests that will be the case, with the 2025/26 Premier League champions set to spend around £250million again this summer on new recruits in an effort to defend their title next term. The World Cup 2026, which involves 15 Arsenal stars, will be going on in the background as the club scour the market for opportunities between now and August 16, when they face Manchester City in the Community Shield.

Several outgoings are expected in addition to talents being brought in, the most notable being a left winger. Now, Mirror Football brings you two of the latest transfer stories involving the English champions.

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Nico Williams interest reignited

Arsenal have reportedly revived their interest in Athletic Club winger Nico Williams. The Spain star signed a whopping 10-year deal with the La Liga side last year which took his release clause up to €90million (£78m). But TEAMtalk reports that the north Londoners view Williams as one of their top attacking targets this summer. The 23-year-old has been on their radar since the summer of 2024, and that interest has not disappeared despite his underwhelming form this season.

Williams is said to be reassessing his options ahead of a potentially pivotal summer, where he will take part in Spain’s World Cup campaign. Sources close to the player have reportedly informed Arsenal and other interested clubs that he would be open to testing himself in the Premier League. For the Gunners, it comes after Juventus rejected their approach for Kenan Yildiz and Barcelona signed another target in Anthony Gordon. That could result in their focus shifting entirely towards bringing Williams to the Emirates Stadium.

Youngster rejects contract offer

Goalkeeper Alexei Rojas is set to leave Arsenal after rejecting a new contract with the club. The 20-year-old shot-stopper was listed by the Gunners as being among the 15 players from the youth team, first team or women’s team to be moving on after June 30. That’s despite the Premier League releasing a full list of retained players from across the top flight’s 20 clubs which noted that Rojas was offered a new deal, which was reported in his native Colombia around a week ago.

Rojas’ departure is not a huge surprise, given he only made a handful of appearances for Arsenal’s U21s. He was, however, part of the Arsenal first-team squad back in November when they beat Slavia Prague 3-0 away from home in the Champions League group stage.

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