Arsenal begin work to sign £145m winger who's better than Nico Williams
da mrbet： While signing a new centre forward is top of new sporting director Andrea Berta’s wishlist at Arsenal this summer, the need to strengthen in other areas of the pitch is also strong.
da pinnacle： The Gunners have been severely hamstrung – pardon the pun – by injuries this season, notably in their forward line.
Though, there’s also been a huge degree of inconsistency, chiefly at left wing where Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have scored just eight goals each in the Premier League.
So, where will Mikel Arteta and Co turn to in their bid to add an extra dose of spice to their attack?
Arsenal chasing big-money winger
For over a year now, Arsenal have been exploring a move for Spanish winger Nico Williams.
The Bilbao star dazzled at the European Championships last summer, famously scoring a goal in the final against England.
However, after no club signed him last year, interest hasn’t dampened in the young forward. He reportedly dreams of a move to Barcelona but their finances are still extremely tight. As a result, English clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea have both been interested.
If the Gunners have room for a pricier addition, perhaps AC Milan’s Rafael Leao could be their man.
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Arsenal have been linked with a move in the past but their interest is now ramping up ahead of the summer, with Football Insider reporting that they are now ‘working on signing’ the Portuguese sensation.
One problem could be the player’s release clause which currently stands at an almighty £145m according to claims in Italy.
How Rafael Leao compares to Nico Williams
While Williams is quite clearly one of the most exciting young wingers in the game right now, there is an argument to suggest that his output needs improving.
This feels like a player simply ready to explode in a better side but the fact remains that he has only scored five times in LaLiga this term and 11 in all competitions.
If Arsenal are looking to add more goals to their side then perhaps Leao, despite a heftier price tag, would be a more exciting candidate here.
Described as a “superstar” by scout Jacek Kulig, he may have only scored one more than Williams in 2024/25, but he’s got a history for finding the net with consistent regularity, now reaching double figures in each of the last four campaigns. On that evidence, it’s no surprise to see that data analyst Ben Mattinson noted that he is “clinical off both feet.”
Leao vs Williams since 2023/24
Stat (per 90 mins)
Leao
Williams
Goals
0.32
0.22
Assists
0.32
0.34
Shot on target %
39%
35%
Key passes
2.18
1.85
Progressive passes
3.91
2.89
Shot-creating actions
4.62
4.96
Succesful take-ons
2.53
3.21
Take-on success %
48%
40%
Progressive carries
5.27
5.52
Stats via FBRef (league only).
When diving deeper into the numbers, the play style of each winger becomes clearer. They are both ‘carry-first’ attackers, driving at players and committing their full-back. This is what Arsenal need more of in the final third so that’s one box ticked.
Williams registers more take-ons but it’s actually Leao who appears to be more effective in one-on-one situations, registering a higher success rate.
Crucially, while the Milan sensation is a goalscorer, he’s also creative and in this Arsenal team he could take his assist numbers to the next level considering he actually ranks higher than Williams for key passes over the last two seasons.
Ultimately, Berta will have to be wise with how he spends the Kroenke’s cash this summer and thus, Leao may not be possible. However, if they are able to sign a striker and still raise additional funds, the 25-year-old should be the man they go for on the flanks.
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