Arsenal have five Nico Williams alternatives after Barcelona transfer blew up

Arsenal will not be signing Nico Williams this summer, with the winger set to remain at Athletic Bilbao for the foreseeable future. He was linked with a potential move to north London earlier this year but it quickly became apparent that Barcelona were leading the race for his signature. Personal terms were reportedly agreed with the Catalan giants, who looked set to bring Williams to the Nou Camp.

However, the move ultimately fell through in a dramatic twist to the tale. Earlier this week, Williams signed a new contract with Athletic Bilbao to keep him there until the summer of 2035. His new deal reportedly includes a higher release clause, believed to be in the region of £80million. It means neither Arsenal nor Barcelona will have any chance of signing Williams over the coming weeks.

Express Sport takes a look at five alternatives for the Gunners after missing out on a move for Williams...

Anthony Gordon

Arsenal could do far worse than to pursue a move for Anthony Gordon, who has established himself as one of the Premier League's top wingers. According to Fabrizio Romano, the north Londoners are counted among the player's 'genuine admirers'.

Newcastle will almost certainly want to keep Gordon, who signed a long-term contract extension at St James' Park last year. It suggests Arsenal will need to commit to a huge transfer bid to stand any chance of bringing him to the Emirates Stadium.

Marcus Rashford

A cheaper option could arrive in the form of Marcus Rashford, who is angling for a clean break from Manchester United this summer. The feeling appears to be mutual, given that his shirt number has already been taken by new signing Matheus Cunha.

Arsenal could decide to take a punt on the England international, who could be available for a relative bargain. However, it will be up for the Gunners to decide if his massive salary is worth the gamble.

Rafael Leao

Rafael Leao has shown flashes of brilliance at AC Milan, but his critics would suggest that he does not always turn up on the biggest occasions. That said, the Portuguese forward could take his game to the next level under Mikel Arteta.

Leao boasts a similar profile to Williams as a dribbly winger who still has room to improve in the final third. If the Gunners can help him spread his wings, he could terrorise Premier League defences and be a hugely important player next season.

Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho is another United outcast who looks set to move on before the start of the new campaign. He is much younger than Rashford, though, and has shown more quality in recent seasons.

The player is reportedly keen on staying in the Premier League, which suggests he would at least entertain the idea of moving to Arsenal. At his best, he is a formidable player and might be worth a look if United are willing to sell for a reasonable price.

Ademola Lookman

Ademola Lookman has enjoyed a stellar rise since leaving English shores and moving abroad. His career highlight came two seasons ago, where he bagged a hat-trick in the Europa League final which earned him a Ballon d'Or nomination.

He could be a smart signing for Arsenal if they can extract the same level of performance from him on a weekly basis. However, the Gunners could reportedly face stiff competition from Atletico Madrid when it comes to securing his services.

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