Athletic Club release Nico Williams statement amid Arsenal summer transfer talk

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Athletic Club have announced an untimely groin injury for Arsenal-linked attacker Nico Williams, saying that the extent 'is pending'.

Contributing two goals and one assist to Spain's Euro 2024-winning antics last summer, 22-year-old Williams found himself tied in rumours to Europe's elite clubs including the Gunners.

Instead he chose to remain with boyhood club Athletic and has flourished even further with 11 goals and seven assists this term. Now, with the summer transfer window approaching again, he cannot escape speculation.

His last contribution for his current employers was a Europa League quarter final strike against Rangers, thus setting up a semi-final meeting with Manchester United who eliminated Lyon in the most dramatic of extra-time circumstances.

However, Williams' efforts may have come at a toll as Athletic have now confirmed his latest injury troubles.

A statement published Saturday on their club website reads: "Nico Williams' medical report. The player has not been included in Ernesto Valverde's squad. Nico Williams will not travel to Madrid for the match against Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium due to groin pain. The outcome is pending."

For Athletic, the concern will be that their star talent is now already missing one crucial La Liga fixture against second-placed Los Blancos. Athletic themselves sit fourth and will be wishing to get Champions League football secured for next season with seven matches to do so.

And of course there is the Europa League to consider, with Man United set to travel to San Mames for the opening leg of their tie in just 11 days' time.

From an Arsenal perspective with the end of the season incredibly close they would be wishing that Williams has only suffered short-term damage so that it may not impact Mikel Arteta's summer transfer plans.

The manager is a huge fan of the winger and interest from the Gunners was present way before his excellent displays at Euro 2024 with Spain, football.london understands.

Throughout the past year the winger has been most talked about in the company of Arsenal and Barcelona.

"Nico is a player who, yes, we were interested in during the summer. We tried to bring him in, but from there the player made a decision and life goes on," admitted Barca sporting director Deco to Mundo Deportivo via beIN Sports.

"The idea with Nico was to add more competition upfront, because we wanted high-level competition, but once the player shows no interest in coming, there’s no further discussion."

And the latest rumour around Athletic's No.10 is that Barca have cleared the path for Arsenal by dropping out of the race entirely over financial concerns.

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