While it could be argued that Arsenal have had a relatively quiet transfer window this summer, it is also true that the Gunners already have one of the strongest squads in the Premier League and therefore likely only needed to make one or two strategic signings.

Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino are two top quality players. It is believed that Mikel Arteta would have liked to sign Merino’s Euro 2024 team-mate Nico Williams.

The 22-year-old played a fantastic tournament for Spain alongside Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and there were some thoughts that the pair would team up at club level this summer.

Arsenal want to sign Nico Williams, but it looks like they will have to wait

With just over a week to go until the transfer window closes, anything can still happen, but there’s a good chance Williams will stay at Athletic Club.

The Independent (subscription required) notes that both the Catalan giants and the Gunners are interested in the player, who has a release fee of £48m. The publication also claims that Williams is expected to want to move to Barca in the medium term rather than north London.

This news will undoubtedly come as a blow to Arteta, even if it is not really surprising.

What it does mean is that the people of North London will have to look elsewhere if they want to sign another striker in the current transfer window.

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It is unclear at this stage who their other targets are. The Gunners are expected to help Man City to the Premier League title again this season, so it is unlikely that the club will be short of agents willing to pursue their clients’ candidacies.

One name that is still in the spotlight is Ademola Lookman, although Gian Piero Gasperini probably doesn’t want to lose him, having admitted that Teun Koopmeiners is likely to move to Juventus and Gianluca Scamacca is set to be sidelined for much of the season.