Arsenal Football Club has been dealt a significant blow in the transfer market as two of their top attacking targets, Nico Williams and Rodrygo Goes, have turned down offers to join the North London club.
The rejections come at a critical point for the Gunners, who are looking to bolster their squad ahead of the 2025/26 Premier League season.
Nico Williams snubs Arsenal
Nico Williams, the 23-year-old Athletic Bilbao winger, has been a target for Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, who sees the Spanish international as a dynamic addition to the team’s flanks.
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Williams has instead told German champions Bayern Munich that he is open to joining them this transfer season.
Vincent Kompany’s side has entered the race to sign the star, with Bayern chiefs Max Eberl and Christoph Freund having already held talks with Williams’ representatives.
The deal has a very high possibility of being completed in record time after the Gunners missed out on Florian Wirtz earlier.
This rejection is particularly stinging for Arsenal, who had prioritized Williams as one of two primary targets to strengthen their attacking options.
Rodrygo Satisfied Under Alonso
On his part, Brazilian and Real Madrid forward Rodrygo Goes, who for the past few weeks has been heavily linked with Arsenal, has reaffirmed his commitment to Real Madrid, stating that he feels comfortable under manager Xabi Alonso.
The 24-year-old’s decision to stay at the Santiago Bernabéu comes after months of uncertainty surrounding his role, intensified by the arrivals of high-profile stars like Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham, which had fueled rumors of a possible exit.
Rodrygo’s 2024/25 season was marked by inconsistency, with only six goals in 30 LaLiga appearances and a single goal in the last three months of the campaign. His reduced role, often playing on the right wing rather than his preferred left, led to reported frustration.
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The turning point came with the appointment of Xabi Alonso as Real Madrid’s new manager, replacing Carlo Ancelotti, who departed for Brazil. Rodrygo, under contract until 2028, sought assurances about his role under the new regime.
Arsenal’s pursuit of Rodrygo was complicated by his wage demands which the Gunners were unwilling to meet.
Despite earlier reports of advanced talks and Rodrygo’s alleged enthusiasm for Arteta’s project, no formal offer materialized, and his decision to stay has left Arsenal scrambling for alternative targets.
The double rejection leaves Arsenal in a precarious position as they aim to close the gap on rivals like Manchester City, who recently signed Lyon’s Rayan Cherki, and Liverpool, who secured Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.
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