5 months ago
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Nico Williams has told Arsenal and Chelsea he will wait until after Euro 2024 to resolve his future.
The Premier League giants are still reeling from Benjamin Sesko’s decision to remain at RB Leipzig where he has signed a new contract.
Both London rivals are firmly in the market for attacking reinforcements this summer and had registered a firm interest in the 21-year-old Slovenia international.
Sesko, however, will stick with the Bundesliga club for at least another 12 months where he feels his development will accelerate given his status as an automatic starter.
‘I had a good first year at RB Leipzig and am incredibly happy to be here,’ he told the club’s official website after signing his new deal.
‘Team, club, city, fans – the overall package is simply outstanding for me. The early contract extension was therefore the logical next step for me.
‘Even though I didn’t play or score as much in the first half of the season, this phase was very important for me and my development.
‘I feel a lot of trust and appreciation throughout the club and that is crucial for being able to perform to my full potential. In the second half of the season in particular, I was able to give something back with my goals.
‘We have a team with great potential and a balanced mix of young and experienced players. I’m really looking forward to taking the next steps with this team.
‘We’ve already achieved a lot in my first season and often shown what quality and outstanding football we can bring to the pitch. But there’s still a lot more to be done and that’s now our common goal.’
With alternative targets, including Ivan Toney, Victor Osimhen and Alexander Isak, commanding huge fees Arsenal, in particular, may pivot towards attempting to sign a verstaile wide forward instead of an out and out No.9.
The 21-year-old speed merchant Williams certainly fits that bill and is available for just £43 million as a consequence of the release clause that was inserted in the contract he signed with Athletic Bilbao back in December of last year.
Addressing his future ahead of Spain’s European Championship campaign, Williams told Cope radio station: ‘I am very happy at Athletic.
‘It is the club that has given me everything, it is the club that has bet on me 100 per cent. I am very happy in Bilbao and that is what I have to say.
‘I have it quite clear. Athletic is my home, I am very happy and what I want to do is focus on the Euros, which is very important because if you are not 100 per cent in a competition like this, it will pass you by and the rest, I do not know what is going to happen.
‘I have told my representatives that I do not want to know anything until the Euros is over. I am 100 per cent focused and my desire is to win the Euros.’
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