Qwiss He played like that for Napoli as well, I have been reading PSG forums recently and seems like he has not adapted well there but PSG is a bit of a graveyard for talent so not entirely surprising. For me he was better than Rodri at the Euros.

I also don't think we are in for him.

    Makes sense to try and wait for him if they think there is a chance. I am guessing the player has probably indicated he'd be open to joining

      Yeah. Maybe do another Odegaard wait till late on.

      JazzG our pitch to williams should be "barcelona is trying to run some kind of ponzi scheme here, they dont have money, you dont want to end up at a shitshow like that"

          I don't see us trying to move for a player who sees us as second best. Been a few occasions where we seem to have moved on from players that initially rejected us.

            Don Pacifico Been a few occasions where we seem to have moved on from players that initially rejected us.

            Yeah, think so too. Vlahovic comes to mind. By the way, I forget, was he an Arteta rejection or a Wemger era rejection. Those "late Wenger/full Emery/early Arteta" years all seemed to merge into one forgettable shitshow.

                Wonder if Oyarzabal is on our shortlist. Might be unlikely to raid Sociedad again mind after Merino

                Don Pacifico we should. Ødegaard for example clearly saw us as second best but because he couldn't break into RM's midfield he chose us. In fact, almost every player we'll be interested in would probably go to RM instead if given the choice. It's just that most of them won't have the choice, and Williams might not get it with Barca.

                    QuincyAbeyie yes. Let’s not be arrogant. We are also not a in a position to be going after any old player. A random winger will not improve us. Nico is in play and is good enough for a title contender. Let’s pursue.

                      QuincyAbeyie don't agree with how you've framed it. Yes, he moved to Real Madrid, which chronologically made them his first choice but by the time Arteta had brought him on loan for a season and Madrid were ready to sell, we (and Arteta) were very much his first choice. So he hadn't at any point rejected Arteta's Arsenal, which for me is the critical difference.

                      Arteta's track record has suggested he only wants players who are fully bought into what we're trying to do as a club and if for whatever reason Williams would still prefer Barca over us, I think you could legitimately challenge whether his motivations align with ours.

                          Sure if Smith Rowe goes we’ll replace him with someone say Merino, and if either or both Nelson and Nketiah go we’ll bring in someone else.

                          Maybe Nwaneri fills a spot but he seems perfect to allow Odegaard to rest

                            lorddulaarsenal yeah. He’s ready for 500-600 solid minutes. And PL2 action on the side. The quality is in your face.

                              Don Pacifico so you honestly think most players we sign would've chosen us even if Real Madrid also made a similar bid for them? Agree to disagree if so. We need to be the first choice out of a signing's possible options, not the first choice including every impossible option.

                                  Also, we didn't move on from Vlahovic. He pretty much rejected us to go to Juventus.

                                    mdgoonah41 A lot of these guys grew up watching iconic Real Madrid and Barca sides, the pull is very strong and even the best English teams struggle with that. With one of his best mates there and not having to leave the country we’ll need to put a very strong case to him.

                                      QuincyAbeyie I think we're basically on the same page here. But I'm not sure of the point you're making because it is possible for Nico Williams to move to Barca...therefore we're not the first choice out of his possible options as I understand it.

                                      Clrnc this is more in relation to the rumours over the last couple of years that Juve would be open to selling him and we made no effort to go in for him again.