Nico Williams has sent a very clear message amid a seemingly chaotic last few days for Arsenal. Following on from the weekend appointment of Andrea Berta as sporting director, links to two players have ramped up significantly over the last 48 hours.
A busy summer is expected in north London with multiple outgoing and departures on the cards as Mikel Arteta plans for a significant squad shake-up. The official arrival of Berta is the first major move made and it looks as though several others are being considered.
The former Atletico Madrid chief is a huge fan of Sporting CP star Viktor Gyokeres with a transfer interest in him now having stepped up, as per the Athletic. Newcastle's Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig are the other main striker transfer options
In midfield, Arsenal will likely have to find replacements for both Thomas Partey and Jorginho with Martin Zubimendi of Real Sociedad expected to be one of those. Arteta could also look at bringing in teenage star Sverre Nypan of Rosenberg or alternatively push Myles Lewis-Skelly into midfield.
If that deal materialises, he would arrive as a free agent with the five-year contract signed in 2020 when he joined the German giants for £54.8million set to expire in just a few months.
Williams is one alternative to him and is the dream target for Arteta having been strongly linked to an Emirates Stadium switch since last summer. His wages remain a major stumbling block and the love he has for his boyhood club could see him remain in Spain again.
That was further evidenced by his clear message on Instagram as Bilbao prepare for the end of the season in which they will be hoping to win the Europa League in their own stadium. On Instagram, on top of an action shot, he wrote: "Still focus!"
Following on from a goalless draw against Osasuna, the Basque side face Villarreal in La Liga action this coming weekend before the first leg of their European quarter-final against Rangers the following Thursday.